This is a blend from 3 different vineyard blocks at different elevations on Stark-Conde’s Jonkershoek Valley farm. The higher elevation vineyards have a finely textured decomposed granite soil and tend to produce a more elegant wine with softer tannins, while the lower vineyard is very rocky and gives a denser, fruitier, more tannic wine.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep purple tinged colour.
Nose: Concentrated dark fruit aromas with liquorice and violet and white pepper notes.
Palate: The palate is rich and broad with layers of fruit and a fine-grained tannin structure.
Grape Varieties: 98% Syrah, 1% Viognier, 1% Roussanne.
Aging: 20 months in a mix of coopers – all French oak, all 300-litre, mostly second-fill (about 20% new).
Awards: 91pts – Wine Spectator
History of Stark-Condé
Stark-Condé is a South African wine producer created in 1998 by Cuban-American José Stark. Today, the winery produces around 6000 cases of wine a year, and is known for producing some of the best red wines in South Africa.
After working as a graphic designer, Stark moved to South Africa in 1997 with his wife Marie and settled on her family’s estate in the Jonkershoek Valley in Stellenbosch. Stark experimented with a few barrels of Cabernet Sauvignon on the property, which was then known as Oude Nektar. However, after being awarded five stars in the Platter South Africa Wine Guide, Stark turned to winemaking full-time, and Stark-Condé was born.
Website: https://stark-conde-shop.co.za/
