THE BERNARD SERIES BASKET PRESS SYRAH by Bellingham 2019

A powerful aromatic wine that is assertive yet delicate and refined, with ample cracked black and white pepper spice, hints of rich dark chocolate against a substantial red berry fruit foundation tinged with subtle floral suggestions of violets and dried indigenous fynbos. A generously structured wine with ripe tannins that promises further integration and complexity on cellar maturation for up to 10 years.

All Individual "Bernard" lots are harvested separately and made in the Bernard cellar where it is "hand made" with minimal intervention in a natural and authentic way. Bunch and berry selection took place on arrival at the cellar before being crushed and fermented. Natural fermentation took place with 20% of the wine fermented whole bunch in open top concrete tanks. The remainder was sorted, and fermented in stainless steel and concrete where it was gently punched down or pumped over to ensure the correct balance of extraction occurs. After pressing, the wine was racked directly into barrels where the young wine underwent malolatic fermentation in French oak and barrel matured. The wines undertake 2 rackings during the 14 month aging period.