The Rall AVA Syrah 2025 is the flagship red wine from acclaimed Swartland winemaker Donovan Rall, produced from an exceptional single vineyard planted on schist soils near Riebeeksrivier. Named after Donovan's daughter, Ava, this limited-production Syrah has rapidly established itself as one of South Africa's most sought-after wines, celebrated for its remarkable purity, elegance and age-worthiness.
Crafted using predominantly whole-bunch fermentation and a minimalist approach in the cellar, AVA Syrah expresses its unique terroir with extraordinary precision. Rather than relying on excessive extraction or oak influence, it focuses on vibrant fruit, savoury complexity, floral aromatics and a striking mineral backbone. The result is a Syrah of Rhône-like finesse that continues to earn praise from critics around the world.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep ruby with vibrant purple highlights.
Nose: Highly perfumed aromas of violets, lavender and fynbos intertwine with blackberries, blueberries and dark cherries. Layers of cracked black pepper, olive tapenade, smoked herbs and graphite add impressive complexity.
Palate: Elegant yet intensely concentrated. Juicy black fruits and red berries are supported by fine-grained tannins and vibrant natural acidity. Savoury notes of black olive, liquorice, thyme and subtle spice are beautifully balanced by a distinctive schist-derived minerality, creating a wine of exceptional precision and length.
Finish: Long, refined and beautifully persistent with lingering dark fruit, floral perfume, white pepper and mineral freshness.
Awards & Accolades
Although the 2025 vintage is still too recent to have received major published ratings, previous vintages have established AVA Syrah as one of South Africa's benchmark Syrahs:
2024 Vintage:97 Points – Tim Atkin MW
2023 Vintage:98 Points – Tim Atkin MW; 96 Points – James Suckling
Consistently recognised among South Africa's elite Syrahs in the South African Wine Classification.
Maturation: Matured in seasoned French oak to preserve purity and terroir expression
Alcohol: Approximately 13%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Closure: Natural cork
Delivery within South Africa:
All orders are delivered from our central warehouse located in Montague Gardens, Western Cape. Local orders are usually delivered in 0-2 working days. Orders outside of Cape Town but within SA are generally delivered within 2-5 working days. If you require expedited delivery, we now offer an Express delivery service, which typically takes 1-3 working days, depending on your area.
While we strive for timely deliveries, there are occasional instances where delays may occur. These are rare but can happen due to unforeseen circumstances.
Delivery Rates:
At checkout, you will be presented with delivery options and corresponding rates. These rates are provided directly by our courier partners and are displayed as is. On rare occasions, a courier may generate an incorrect delivery rate due to issues with the address recognition. In such cases, we will arrange for an alternative courier to deliver your order at a similar rate to the original cost.
We believe in offering transparency in our delivery fees and, as such, do not include any delivery costs in our product pricing. We do not profit from delivery fees.
Third-Party Couriers:
For the majority of our orders, we rely on third-party courier services for delivery. Regular notifications will be sent and on the day of delivery the couriers will notify you via sms, call or email . If the courier is unable to reach you, we will get in touch with you to arrange an alternative solution.
Please note, you will be required to sign upon delivery, and the drivers may request a form of identification.
If there is something wrong with your product, we will gladly issue a full refund of 100% of your purchase amount. To process this, please reach out to us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za as soon as possible, and we will guide you through the refund process.
Order Cancellations: If you need to cancel your order, simply email us at info@mothercityliquor.co.za, and we’ll assist you with the cancellation process. Please note, cancellations will incur a small fee of 10%, which covers the transaction fees we incur for processing each order. If your order has already been shipped, please be aware that the shipping fee is non-refundable.
Consignment Orders:
We do not offer consignment stock or consignment deals.
Returns:
If you find that there is an issue with your product, you are eligible to return it to us. Here’s how you can initiate the return:
Exceptions to Returns:
Sale or Special Offer Items: Only regular-priced items are eligible for a refund. Unfortunately, items purchased on sale or as part of a special offer cannot be refunded.
