old vine

Delaire Graff Swartland

'Cape Vintage' Port Style, 2022

750ml
In stock
$65
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Varietal Composition: Tinta Barocca (59%), Touriga Nacional (41%)
RS: 108.5 g/l
Cellaring Potential: 10 - 20 years
ABV: 19.68%

Description

Richly expressive yet finely structured, this Cape Vintage dazzles with layers of ripe red berries, subtle spice, and a lift of vibrant acidity. The palate is balanced and plush, anchored by refined tannins that promise exceptional aging potential. Crafted in a port-style from Swartland’s sun-drenched slopes, this wine will evolve beautifully over 10 to 20 years, gaining complexity with notes of licorice, wild herbs, and the region’s signature earthy depth. A true collector’s gem, ideal for special moments now or cellaring for the future.
Hand-harvested from 50-year-old Swartland vines, the grapes were chilled, gently crushed, and cold-soaked for five days. We performed soft punch-downs to extract flavor, then fortified at peak sugar ripeness with a fine wine-spirit blend. Aged 12 months in seasoned French oak and further matured in bottle for 24 months, this wine is crafted for depth, balance, and longevity.

Winemaker: Morné Vrey
De Morgenzon, ‘the morning sun,’ was so named as it is the first part of the Stellenboschkloof valley to see the sun because of its high altitude and aspects. Their slopes rise from about 200m to nearly 400m above sea level and their vistas embrace Cape Town, Table Mountain, Cape Point, Cape Hangklip, the Hottentots Holland mountains, Helderberg and Simonsberg with the ocean as a backdrop. The reputation of Wendy and Hylton Applebaum’s estate continues its ascent - one regularly marked by genuinely prestigious international and local awards.

* Prior vintage described.

Flavor Profiles

mixed spices

Mixed spices

oak

Oak

red cherries

Red cherries

strawberries

Strawberries

In the cellar

About the Winery

Location

Swartland, South Africa

Swartland, South Africa

Swartland winemakers are paving the way for producing some of South Africa’s most sought-after wines. Their secret ingredient is abandoned old vines from the post-apartheid era. Other regions like Stellenbosch and Franschhoek were more fashionable at the time, and while farmers were tearing out old plants and replacing them with Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon, Swartlands' untrellised varietals were left to fend for themselves. The result is unconventional, exciting wines being crafted from lesser-known grapes like Palomino, Semillon Gris, Cinsaut and Tinta Barocca.