Nestled away in the scenic Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge in the desirable region of Walker Bay is the Creation Wine Estate, run by Jean-Claude and Carolyn Martin since 2002. They call the estate ‘our little piece of paradise’. The 40 hectare site sits in a region where the climate brings neither extreme cold or heat and this means that the innovative couple have been able to experiment with the grape varietals that have been planted.
The 2013 Syrah spends 14 months in oak barrels developing fantastic flavours; this is really an outstanding wine. The colour is a dark crimson-red and the nose is equally dark – cooked orange notes but with a cinnamon twist. On the palate you get summer fruits, anise and pepper but it’s not over powering and is excellently balanced. It’s smoky but silky and smooth, and because the tannins are fairly soft and the finish is quite short, you quickly want another sip.
We think it pairs brilliantly with something with a little kick – perhaps chorizo, chilli con carne or a charcuterie board. Its softness also means that it’s a great partner for dark chocolate. We also have to compliment the bottle artwork design which is simple but effective and perhaps some of the most attractive out there right now.
Although it’s often said, this is truly a wine that gets better with the second and third glass as the fruitiness becomes more obvious. This is one of our favourites – truly first class.