Description
listen while you read
The Wine
John Spicer Syrah is named after our first-born child and only son. His names, as Katharien’s, are family names. His paternal grandfather was John de Villiers, while Spicer goes back further to a maternal great uncle, Henry Spicer Daniels.
The reason for making the John Spicer Syrah is based purely on the outstanding and unique character of the wine produced by this vineyard year after year – wishing to keep it apart as the ultimate expression of our terroir, supporting the philosophy that great wines are made in the vineyard.
– a truly handcrafted wine, in every sense of the word.
The Tamboerskloof John Spicer Syrah 2016 is a well-structured and balanced wine, rich ruby in colour. On the nose, deep notes of plum and wild bramble are followed by charming violets and fynbos aromas, alongside spices and black pepper. The entry is youthful with a generous middle palate, integrating loads of texture and fresh acidity. The elegant follow-through of fruit and spice from nose to palate is intense and complex. The finish is powerful with great oak integration and new leather and tobacco notes. The wine is ready to drink, but has the potential for a further 15 years of bottle maturation.
Tasting Notes
The Artwork
Each year we approach a South African artist to make a painting for the wrapping of The Kleinood Tamboerskloof John Spicer Syrah. It is with fascination we share in their various perspectives and experiences of the same Kleinood Farm in much the same way we find different vintages producing different wines from the same terroir incredibly interesting…
Beezy Baily, Jill Trappler, Marlene Steyn, Katharien de Villiers, Stephané Conradie, Jeanne Gaigher have participated in this project since the first vintage.
For the 2016 vintage we approached the young South African artist Amy Rusch.
Her layered approach results in an immersive experience of terroir and place in much the same way the wine does – a connection and expression captured beautifully in thread on various media.
The Kleinood Nocturne
The Kleinood Nocturne was born from a very natural collaboration between wine, art and music. Created by the acclaimed jazz pianist Kyle Shepherd in collaboration with sound artist Rob Brinkworth, The Kleinood Nocturne will take you on a breathtaking audio journey, from sunset to sunrise, on Kleinood, over a glass of Tamboerskloof John Spicer Syrah.
More About The Kleinood Nocturne
WINEMAKING RECORD
The grapes are hand picked from a select portion of a single vineyard block, hand sorted three times before going into stainless steel fermenters where a combination of state of the art winery technology and old-style winemaking techniques take care of designing this unique, hand crafted wine. Fermented at 26.5oC for 14 days.
GRAPES
100% Syrah Clone SH470
Ex Kleinood (Stellenbosch)
Block Seven
ASPECT
North Facing
ALTITUDE
198m above MSL
WINE ANALYSIS
Alcohol: 14,78 % volume
Total Acid: 5.8 g/l
pH: 3.35
Residual Sugar: 2.7 g/l
BARREL MATURATION
Eighteen months in 300 litre French oak barrels 15% first, 35% second and 50% third fill.
CELLARING POTENTIAL
15 years
AGE OF VINES
2001
FOOD PAIRING
The wine pairs well with red meat and game flavoured with herbs, berry coulis or smokey spices as well as sweeter dishes of pork, duck or spiced Asian styled dishes accompanied by plum sauces and good company.
