Top Scores for De Grendel's Shiraz Trio
De Grendel’s three different expressions of shiraz/syrah, grown in three different regions, may be diverse in character and style but they share the distinction of award-winning quality, with all three wines achieving upwards of 90 points in the 2021 Winemag.co.za Prescient Shiraz Report and a Top 10 place for De Grendel Elim Shiraz 2019.
The recognition comes hot on the heels of De Grendel releasing the maiden vintage of Op Die Berg Syrah – the newest addition to its shiraz/syrah portfolio and to the Op Die Berg range grown at high altitude on the Ceres Plateau in the extreme cold climate of the Koue Bokkeveld.
De Grendel Elim Shiraz 2019, presented in a 1.5L magnum, earned a place in the Top 10 with a score of 94 points from the judging panel of Winemag editor Christian Eedes, fine wine retailer James Pietersen and wine writer Malu Lambert. The judges praised the wine’s inviting nose and the palate having “intensity of flavour without being weighty and (it) is also wonderfully harmonious – pure and fresh with fine tannins”.
Elim Shiraz is grown in the cool maritime climate near Africa’s southern tip of Cape Agulhas, a winemaking area identified by Hopkins more than 20 years ago, which he prizes for its rare ability to produce shiraz in the sought-after fragrant and intensely black pepper rotundone style.
De Grendel Shiraz 2019, grown in coastal-influenced vineyards in Stellenbosch and Paarl, scored 91 points, while the brand-new Op Die Berg Syrah 2019 scored 90 points.
“Shiraz/Syrah – the same grape but made in different styles – is a wine I find endlessly fascinating for its adaptability to different climates and its distinctive sense of place that so clearly reflects where it comes from. It gives a real sense of pride that these three very different styles all received recognition from a panel of respected wine critics,” Hopkins said.
Syrah or Shiraz? What's the difference?
De Grendel Elim Shiraz 2019 and De Grendel Shiraz 2019 are yet to be released, while the Op Die Berg Syrah 2019 is currently available for sale online or at the tasting room.