The smooth and smoky Excelsior Syrah from South Africa.
85% Syrah and 15% Petit Verdot from Robertson, South Africa. 40% of the wine was aged in a combination of French and American oak for six months. It has just 2.47 g/L of residual sugar and is vegan-friendly.
Sample submitted for review. The Excelsior Syrah has an SRP of $10 and is available for as low as $7 (Saturday Splurge). 16,000 cases produced. Imported by Cape Classics.
The De Wets of Excelsior have a proud winemaking tradition dating back to 1697. The calcareous soils of the Robertson area were once used to raise champion thoroughbred horses, but now those soils are used to produce fine wines.
This wine has bold plum, chocolate and spicy aromas, followed by a palate bursting with cherry and smoked meat flavours. This wine is a perfect match for barbequed meat or strongly flavored Mediterranean dishes.
14% Alcohol
The 2016 Excelsior Syrah begins with a smoky, meaty aroma of blackberry and plum along with a bit of licorice, mint and spice. It's a very nice and rather Northern Rhone-like beginning to this wine. Tasking a sip reveals it to be very smooth and full of juicy fruit and licorice in the mouth. It retains a bit of the smoked meat from the nose as well. This is a really nice, easy drinking Syrah. Touches of pepper, vanilla and chocolate lead into dry, soft, satisfying finish.
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You can also find more of our vegan wine picks here.
