Saying Ja to Syrah 🍇 Celebrating International Syrah Day, February 16 in the best way. @dottieandjohn are preparing us for Open that Bottle Night (February 25), the last Saturday in February. More on OTBN with @dottieandjohn here: https://grapecollective.com/articles/riesling-or-marionberry-oh-the-dilemmas-of-otbn In anticipation, I recalled the @lamottewine Syrah virtual vertical with La Motte Cellarmaster, Edmund Terblanche, that I enjoyed with @grangehurstwinery’s Jeremy Walker. We studied: 2003 La Motte Shiraz 2007 La Motte Shiraz 2010 La Motte Pierneef Shiraz Viognier 2013 La Motte Syrah 2015 La Motte Syrah 2017 La Motte Syrah Sometimes I believe that 2007 is the year that answered. I finished high school that year and the years since have been turbulent - between university, the heartbreaks, the triumphs and the trials. I experienced the online tasting with Jeremy Grangehurst, proprietor at Grangehurst in Stellenbosch who had played host to me during the Cape Winemaker’s Guild tasting in the Cape in 2021. I promised Jeremy that I wanted to open the 2007 La Motte Syrah with dear family, who have been so good to me, particularly my uncle who is a wonderful oenophile. I thought of all the years that have passed, of my aunt and uncle who always took the time to share their wonderful wine with me over the years. My aunt and uncle are incredibly fond of the cape winelands, particularly of Franschoek where this wine is vinified. There could not be a more apt wine to share with them on Open that Bottle Night. While there is no guarantee that the years ahead will be easy, it gives us great solace to look back on the vintages that have been so fondly. How are you celebrating Syrah Day? How will you be commemorating Open That Bottle Night? #TasteLetsSee #LaMotte #SyrahDay #OTBN (at Grangehurst Winery) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cou9ZwuqvTY/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
