THE PREVIOUS Heritage Syrah from Leeuwenkuil Family Vineyards was the 2019 vintage, rated 96/100 in Winemag's 2024 Shiraz Report. No 2020, no 2021, and then POW! A near-perfect score of 99 points for the 2022 vintage in Platter's 2026 South African Wine Guide. “Straight out of Côte Rotie,” said Platter's taster Cathy Marston in her note for the book. “Delicate perfume of violet and peppered ham alongside black plum and cherry, framed with soft spice… Elegant tannins and smoky tobacco note at finish complete exceptional wine.”
So consistently good is this beauty that it's among the Top 10 Shiraz in the SA Wine Classification, with other top accolades over the years including 97 points for the 2018 vintage at the Trophy Wine Show, 97 points at the Decanter World Wine Awards and a win at the Shiraz SA Challenge with the 2017 vintage, the 2015 judged Best in Class at the Trophy Wine Show and Shiraz of the Year in Platter's SA Wine Guide, the 2014 Best in Class at the Trophy Wine Show and the 2013 a Five Star laureate in Platter's.
Swartland grapes, Paarl cellar, flagship label, small volume, Shiraz of the Year and the most highly rated red wine in Platter's from one of the biggest vineyard owners in South Africa… For more about Willie and Emma Dreyer's Leeuwenkuil story, click here.
LEEUWENKUIL HERITAGE SYRAH 2022
WO Swartland. Wine from a single vineyard at Leeuwenkuil, the ‘Beacon Block' of bush vines, planted in 1995. Schist soils; dry-land farmed. Grapes handpicked in February: 4 ton/ha. Natural fermentation (wild yeast), 30% of the grapes in whole bunches, with regular punch-downs and pump-overs. Post-maceration skin contact for 28 days followed by malolactic fermentation. Matured in old 300L and 1000L French oak barrels for 18 months. Total production: 2216 bottles.
Alc 13.5 | RS 2.5 | TA 5.8 | pH 3.7
From Producer's Tasting Notes: Complex wine reflecting distinctive combination of schist soils and indigenous Cape fynbos. At its best from 2026 to 2032, but can easily age for many more years if cellared correctly.
Producer's Pairing Suggestions: The wine's herby notes make it the perfect accompaniment to fire-grilled, deboned Karoo lamb marinated in olive oil, lemon juice and rosemary, served with a red wine reduction and bone marrow sauce. Equally sumptuous with ratatouille.
R460pb ex-cellar, Windmeul-Paarl.
