Blackwater Cultellus Syrah, 2018, Swartland, South Africa

Fresh, morello cherry, graphite & tar. Frankie “Rabbit pants’s" expressive Syrah.

About the wine

This is a striking expression of Swartland’s rugged terroir, crafted with minimal intervention to let the vineyard’s character shine. Sourced from dry-farmed bush vines rooted in granite-rich soils, this Syrah exudes both intensity and finesse.

Grapes for this Syrah come from a singularly amazing block of vineyards against a steep schist-covered slope in Riebeek Kasteel area and are processed with a complete hands-off winemaking approach. The juice spends 4 weeks on the skins, it is then drained and pressed to 8-year-old 600l barrels and is left unmoved for 27 months. It is finally bottled unfiltered and unfined. A truer expression of South African Shiraz, it would be hard to imagine.

Tasting notes

The nose is layered with dark berries, black olive, and cracked pepper, complemented by earthy undertones and a hint of smoky spice. The palate is deep and textured, with fine-grained tannins and a vibrant acidity that add elegance to its powerful core. Aged in neutral oak, it retains purity and freshness, leading to a long, savoury finish.

About the winemaker

Francois Haasbroek is, in our opinion, the man who put Waterford Estate on the map and made it the Stellenbosch legend it is today. But he always had a dream of going it alone.So, after clocking out for the day, he’d set off in search of overlooked vineyards—the kind whose grapes would quietly vanish into big blends. Then, while the rest of the world slept, he’d stay up until 3 a.m., coaxing them into something special. A few hours later, he’d be back at Waterford, ready to do it all over again.