Thief In The Night, Savage 2023

The 2023 Thief in the Night, mainly Grenache mixed with Cinsault from Piekenhierskloof, includes around 10-20% whole bunch. It actually comes from a vineyard shared with Eben Sadie that goes into his Soldaart. This has a forward, generous bouquet with pure redcurrant, wild strawberry and touches of brown spice. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy, silky tannins, lightly spiced with white pepper. It glides on the finish, but perhaps it’s a little short. Drinking Window: 2025 – 2036.

Thief in the Night comes from two parcels between 600 and 680 metres on Billie and Erasmus van Zyl's farm in Piekenierskloof and is a typically graceful Grenache from a winemaker with the lightest of touches. Fermented and aged in concrete eggs and foudres, it has layers of Campari spices, blood orange and red cherry and some clove spice from 10% whole clusters. 2026-32.

“89% Grenache and 11% Cinsault from Piekenierskloof. 10 – 20% whole-bunch fermentation. Matured for 10 months in concrete egg and neutral 500-litre barrels. Wild strawberry plus hints of earth, spice and flinty reduction. The palate is more substantial than many examples of the variety – good depth of fruit, bright acidity and fine tannins, the finish notably dry.