Spier, 2008 Vintage Selection Shiraz.

Vintage Selection is a premium range of single varietals that offers something new every year. This range is a celebration of the seasons. The winemaker's challenge is harnessing the unique seasonal climates of the Western Cape. As every year is different, every vintage has a unique story to tell.

Dark in colour with a youthful ruby rim, the wine shows fragrant violets, mulberries and black pepper on the nose. Mulberry, vanilla, spice and hints of toast show on a beautifully balanced palate with a profusion of fruit and soft tannin structure.

Trellised, 10 year-old vines planted on southeast-facing slopes yielded the grapes for this wine. The vineyards received supplementary drip irrigation and produced 8 tons per hectare.

Grapes were harvested from selected vineyard blocks at 25.7° Balling and cold soaked for 2-3 days at 13-14°C. Following fermentation in stainless steel tanks, selected wines underwent malolactic fermentation in oak barrels. The wine matured in a combination of French- and American oak, with only the finest barrels selected for blending and bottling.