2 to 5 business days
This vibrant KWV Shiraz shows prominent fruit sweetness with aromas of cherry, raspberry, and dried herbs. Undertones of cedar and dark chocolate are accompanied by a juicy and dimensional mid-palate with a well-integrated tannin structure and an elegant, lingering finish. Bud break was 10 days early. Spring to November was warm on average, but the entire growing season and most of the harvest experienced cool evenings. This was fantastic for both flavor development as well as the synthesis of phenols, like tannin and color, which accompanied bright fruit and perfect acidity in the final result. December had warm days and unusually cool evenings, but it was also very dry with the Cape forgoing the usual December and January rains. The moisture constraint in the root zone activated hormonal responses in the vines that sped up ripening even further while ensuring great concentration. Cool evenings meant the vines recovered from the heat of the day and delicate aromatics were preserved. The surprise harvest saw everyone stretched to the limit. Nonetheless, care was taken with each parcel of fruit and the KWV team met the challenge with aplomb.
