“Stunning world-class Syrah.” - Decanter, 97 points

When Chris Alheit introduces a new winemaker, who he says is one to look out for, then people necessarily sit up and take notice. That was what happened when Chris contacted his old friend and UK importer, Richard Kelley, with an email that simply said “Richard meet Lukas, Lukas meet Richard”. Richard caught the next plane out to The Cape and the rest is history. Within a few years, Lukas has become synonymous with South Africa’s ‘New Wave’ and both wine merchants and wine drinkers now have to fight for an allocation.

His ‘Graft’ Syrah from the Polkadraai Hills, just outside Stellenbosch, is a thing of great beauty, evoking purple flower petals in its upper register, black cherry in its middle register and sweet spice in its lower register. It’s wonderfully authentic. In fact, you could say there’s nothing falsetto about it. No? OK, moving on. There’s a wonderful inner perfume that suffuses the dark, mellifluous fruit, bringing exotic seduction to a grape than can taste monolithic in the wrong hands. It’s 100% whole bunch-fermented, which brings a sappy, juiciness to the wine, and aged for 11 months in French oak which softens and sweetens the crunchy young berries. 13.5% alc. Drink now-2030.

Press review:

Decanter: “Stunning world-class Syrah from the Karibib vineyard. Focused, spicy and hauntingly perfumed, with clove and rosemary aromas, tapenade and blackberry fruit, fine tannins and the focus and freshness that are features of Lukas Van Loggerenberg’s style. Drink now-2033.” 97 points

Tim Atkin MW: “"Easy to make" it may be, thanks to the quality of the grapes, but this world class Syrah from the Karibib vineyard in the Polkadraai Hills is still stunning. Drink now-2033.” 97 points