Stellenbosch Syrah | Granite Soils | Duncan Savage
The Savage Red 2024 is the flagship red from acclaimed South African winemaker Duncan Savage, and since the 2017 vintage it has been produced as a 100% Syrah rather than the multi-varietal blend used in earlier releases.
The 2024 is sourced from two decomposed-granite sites, one in Stellenbosch and another in the Swartland. The Stellenbosch component comes from trellised vines, while the Swartland component is sourced from dry-farmed bush vines. This granite influence, combined with Savage's restrained approach in the cellar, produces a Syrah focused on perfume, freshness, peppery spice and mineral tension rather than sheer power.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep ruby-red with bright crimson and violet highlights.
Nose: Highly perfumed, with violets and rose petals leading into blackberry, black cherry and dark plum. Classic Syrah notes of cracked black pepper, wild herbs and subtle fynbos sit alongside a stony, mineral character associated with the decomposed-granite vineyards.
Palate: Medium-bodied, precise and savoury. Dark berry fruit is balanced by pepper, herbs and fine mineral notes, with fresh acidity giving the wine excellent energy. The tannins are structured but refined, allowing the fruit and spice to remain clear and focused.
Finish: Long, dry and savoury, with lingering blackberry, violet, pepper and crushed-stone minerality.
Technical Details
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Producer: Savage Wines
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Winemaker: Duncan Savage
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Vintage: 2024
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Country: South Africa
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Region: Western Cape
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Variety: 100% Syrah
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Vineyard Sources: Stellenbosch & Swartland
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Soils: Decomposed granite
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Viticulture: Trellised vines & dry-farmed bush vines
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Style: Dry red wine
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Oak: Seasoned/older oak
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ABV: 13,5%
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Bottle Size: 750ml
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Closure: Cork
Winemaking
Savage Red is made with an emphasis on minimal intervention and preserving vineyard character. Duncan Savage has traditionally incorporated a substantial proportion of whole bunches in this wine, followed by gentle extraction and maturation in seasoned larger-format oak.
Recent vintages demonstrate the approach particularly well: the 2022 spent its first year in old 500-litre barrels followed by further maturation in larger foudre, while the 2023 used 50% whole-bunch fermentation and spent 13 months in old 500-litre barrels.
The objective isn't to make a heavily extracted or oak-dominated Shiraz. Instead, Savage aims for freshness, perfume, savoury complexity and fine tannin structure, allowing the Syrah and granite terroir to remain at the forefront.
Food Pairing
Serve at around 16–18°C, ideally after 30–60 minutes in a decanter.
Excellent with grilled lamb and rosemary, pepper-crusted steak, venison, duck, braaied meats and mushroom dishes. The peppery, savoury character of Syrah makes it particularly good with dishes featuring herbs, smoke or char.
Buyer's & Collector's Note
Savage Red has evolved into one of Duncan Savage's most serious wines. What originally began as a red blend has been 100% Syrah since 2017, with the focus increasingly placed on granite-grown fruit and restrained winemaking.
For those who enjoy Porseleinberg, Rall AVA Syrah, Mullineux Schist Syrah or other premium Cape Syrahs, Savage Red 2024 is a compelling addition to the cellar: elegant, peppery and mineral-driven rather than big or heavily oaked, with the structure to develop beautifully in bottle.
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.
Subscription Terms & Conditions:
- By purchasing a Subscription, you agree to recurring automatic payments based on your selected delivery frequency (monthly, every 2 months or every 3 months etc).
- Your subscription will automatically renew and your payment method will be charged on the same calendar day as your original purchase until your subscription is cancelled.
- Minimum Commitment: Subscription pricing includes a discounted rate and therefore requires a minimum commitment of two (2) deliveries. Cancellation requests will only be accepted after your second subscription box has been successfully delivered.
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