Spice Route, Chakalaka, Swartland

This is a deliciously rich, smooth and full-bodied wine that shows black berry, redcurrant and an endless array of spices, both sweet and savoury, that linger long on the finish. 

This is a gorgeous blend of the classic southern Rhône's Grenache, Syrah, Carignane and Mourvedre, augmented by Petite Sirah, or Durif, (most often seen in California) and Tannat (which normally comes from Madiran in France). The vines are grown in the up and coming region of Swartland, a region that Charles Back, the founder of Spice Route, was instrumental in establishing. The region has desert-like dryness but the vines re never irrigated, forcing the vines to dig deep for nutrients, which is just what happens here on the easy to get through shale and water retaining clay soils.

The grapes are hand harvested and then fermented in separate lots in concrete vats before being aged in American and French barrels. After 12 months the wines are blended before being returned to the barrels again for settling, then bottling.

Spice Route make wines that reflect the wonderfully rich tapestry of South African history - this in particular the trade in spices and the use of mixed spices - or "Chakalaka" in Zulu dialect - in many  South African dishes.