Grenl Sir David Graaff 2016

De Grendel Sir David Graaff is one of the estates most prestigious red wines, created as a tribute to Sir David Pieter de Villiers Graaff, the 1st Baronet of Cape Town. Conceived as a true legacy wine, the range is produced in limited quantities, with individually numbered bottles bearing Sir Davids signature.

De Grendel describes it as a wine intended for long-term maturation, with a potential lifespan exceeding 20 years. The wine was originally conceived by cellar master Charles Hopkins around three powerful red varieties: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The inaugural release used fruit from mature vineyards, individual vinification and extended maturation in new oak, establishing the concentrated, structured and age-worthy style for which Sir David Graaff has become known.

The 2016 vintage is now a mature expression, combining concentrated dark fruit with savoury spice, tobacco and developed tertiary complexity. This is firmly in De Grendel's collector territory rather than an everyday red. Tasting Notes Colour: Deep ruby to garnet red, showing the beginnings of mature development at the rim.

Nose: Layered aromas of blackcurrant, dark plum and red cherry are joined by cedar, cigar box, tobacco leaf, clove and warm baking spices. Palate: Full-bodied and concentrated, with ripe plum, cassis and dark berry fruit supported by savoury spice and integrated oak. Bottle age has softened the wine's structure, bringing greater harmony between the fruit, oak and firm, fine-grained tannins.

Finish: Long, structured and persistent, with lingering dark fruit, tobacco, spice and savoury notes. Awards & Accolades Platters South African Wine Guide 2021 5 Stars (95+ Points)Awarded coveted five-star status and recognised as a South African classic. Technical Details Producer: De Grendel WinesWine: Sir David Graaff, 1st Baronet of Cape TownVintage: 2016Origin: Western Cape, South AfricaStyle: Premium dry red blendPrincipal varieties: Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon & Petit VerdotWinemaker: Charles HopkinsBottle size: 750mlCellaring: Produced specifically with extended maturation in mind; well-cellared bottles should continue to develop.

Collector's Note Sir David Graaff occupies a particularly interesting position in the De Grendel portfolio. Unlike the estate's Bordeaux-inspired Rubaiyat, this wine was built around Shiraz supported by Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, giving it a richer, more muscular identity. The first vintage comprised just 3,344 individually numbered bottles, illustrating the deliberately limited-production philosophy behind the label.