Avondale Samsara 2011

Avondale is a pioneering estate in the Paarl wine region of the Western Cape, South Africa, with a history dating back over 300 years and stewardship by the Grieve family since 1997. Nestled at the foot of the granite domed Paarl Mountains, the region benefits from a Mediterranean climate with warm, dry summers and cooling breezes from the Atlantic Ocean, which create a long, even ripening season.The estate follows organic and biodynamic practices under its BioLOGIC approach, embracing “Terra Est Vita - soil is life” to nurture healthy vines across 13 distinct soil types from loam to decomposed granite and sandstone. The vineyards are farmed with minimal intervention and wild cover crops, producing balanced, expressive grapes that result in wines with strong sense of place and ethical integrity.

The Avondale Samsara 2011 is a single varietal Syrah, traditionally fermented with 10-15% whole bunch inclusion and a long post fermentation maceration to enhance structure and depth. After natural fermentation the wine undergoes malolactic conversion and is matured 12 to 16 months in French oak barrels, followed by light filtration before bottling. This wine display vibrant fruit of red and dark berry, cherry, plum with violet and spice notes of white pepper, cloves, cinnamon. With firm yet integrated tannins it has excellent length on the palate. This wine pairs superbly with grilled or roasted red meats, game dishes, hearty stews or mature cheeses, complementing its savoury spice and fruit complexity.