Wine of the week: Saronsberg Full Circle 2022

db's 'Wine of the week' is a "deliciously-rich in character" Shiraz from Western Cape's Saronsberg Cellar. Winemaker Daniela Jansen, who first visited a winery at the age of 14, says that her ideal holiday would be "travelling the Northern Rhône...drinking Côte-Rôtie, eating the local cheeses and exploring the spiritual homeland of Syrah". Indeed, it was Jansen's Full Circle Shiraz which won top honours at the 2024 Global Syrah Masters, gaining a Master medal.

Saronsberg Full Circle 2022

• Winemaker: Daniela Jansen
• Producer: Saronsberg Cellar
• Region: Western Cape
• Country: South Africa
• Vintage: 2022
• Grape varieties: 76% Shiraz, 12% Grenache, 9% Mourvedre, 2% Viognier, 1%Roussanne
• ABV: 14.5%
• Approx. retail price: £40
• Medal: Master

The brilliant combination of Saronsberg’s skilled winemaking and Tulbagh’s affinity for Mediterranean grapes, above all Syrah, is wonderfully displayed in this high-end expression, called Full Circle. One of the highest-scoring wines of 2024’s Global Syrah Masters, it is deliciously-rich in character from ripe plums and cherry jam, to sweet peaches and creamy pears, allied to complementary notes of fresh toast and roasted coffee. Powerful, and warming, as well as complex and surprisingly refreshing too. (Patrick Schmitt MW)