Winemaker Notes
This deep garnet blend is a medium-bodied red wine with an expressive nose and a soft, lush mouth-feel. The Shiraz gives ripe plum fruit and dark fruit notes on the nose and palate. Grenache softens the palate, adds floral notes and combines with Shiraz to form the backbone of the blend. Mourvèdre adds complexity with savoury, leathery and spicy aromas. Cinsaut lends red fruits and a soft, lush mouthfeel to the final blend. The overall wine shows depth and finesse, but with a lighter body and gentle tannins.
Blend: 86% Syrah, 5% Mourvedre, 5% Cinsault, 4% Grenache
With bold fruit flavors and accents of sweet spice, Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre form the base of the classic Rhône Red Blend, while Carignan, Cinsault and Counoise often come in to play. Though they originated from France’s southern Rhône Valley, with some creative interpretation, Rhône blends have also become popular in other countries. Somm Secret—Putting their own local spin on the Rhône Red Blend, those from Priorat often include Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. In California, it is not uncommon to see Petite Sirah make an appearance.
Flanked by majestic mountains on either side, the Paarl district is a valley whose most valuable water source is the Berg River. While sometimes during dry and hot summers, the vineyards in the valley need supplemental irrigation, those vineyards on the eastern slopes where water retention is better, aren't irrigated.
Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinotage, Shiraz, Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc enjoy great success in Paarl.