The Foundry Syrah 2020 Coastal Region, South Africa 75cl

Chris Williams spent years as head winemaker at Meerlust before turning his full attention to The Foundry, the small, Rhone-focused label he founded in 2001. Syrah has been at its heart from the very start and remains one of the wines he is best known for. He founded the label with his partner James Reid and, for the best part of two decades, made the wines while still running the cellar at Meerlust, a balancing act only a committed grower would take on.

This is Syrah in the cooler, more fragrant idiom rather than the big, jammy style. Whole-bunch fermentation and ageing for well over a year in a mix of old oak and concrete build structure without heavy new-oak flavour, keeping the wine fresh and firmly rooted in its place.

The 2020 sits at a restrained 13% alcohol, which tells you plenty about the style Williams is chasing. We do not hold a full vintage report for this parcel, so the notes stick to what the wine itself shows.

Look for black pepper, violets and dark plum on the nose, then an elegant, structured palate framed by fine tannins and a savoury, peppery finish. It is a wine of poise rather than sheer power, built with the table in mind.

If you lean towards northern Rhone Syrah or cool-climate Shiraz, this is a natural next step. It shines with roast lamb, venison or a slow-cooked beef stew, and has the structure to reward a few years in the cellar.