Fairview has been quietly rewriting the rules of South African wine for decades, and this Shiraz is a perfect example of why. The estate sits on the southern slopes of Paarl Mountain, where the vines look out all the way to the coast, and feel it, too. Sea breezes drift in, temperatures drop after sunset, and the grapes hold onto something fresh and savoury that hot-climate Shiraz so often loses.
Pour it and you'll see what we mean. Deep, intense red in the glass, with a nose that opens on blackcurrant and crushed rosemary, threaded with peppery spice and a hint of something almost herbal, the wild scrub of the Cape, bottled. The palate is medium-bodied and beautifully structured, with spiced plum, dark berry and a long, lingering finish framed by tannins that mean business without ever pulling focus.
This is a brilliant food wine. Reach for it with a Sunday roast of lamb, a slow-cooked beef stew, or, when the British summer finally turns up, anything off the charcoal. It also makes a serious friend of aged Gouda and a sharp Cheddar. Decant it for an hour if you're drinking it young, and watch it open up.
Delivered across the UK, and a thoughtful gift for anyone who appreciates Cape reds with character. Charles Back and his team don't make boring wine, and this Shiraz proves it.
