Description
CELLAR INFORMATION “Vines located in the same block can react to their environment in unique ways and No Place Like Home is an exploration of the variation that exists within a single vineyard. Using a mix of drone technology (with a Near Infrared Camera flying 80m above the vineyard) and good, old-fashioned soil analysis, we identified four distinct pockets across the 3 hectare parcel, then harvested and fermented them separately before meticulously blending only the best barrels to produce the most complete wine. We harvest in the cool, early hours of the morning, into 14kg Lug boxes and transport grapes back to the cellar in refrigerated trucks where they are allowed to cool overnight. After gentle foot-stomping and crushing (one third whole-bunch for this vintage), natural fermentation gets underway, at its own pace, in a combination of open and closed fermenters. Once complete, we macerate gently with a single, daily pumpover/punchdown.” VINEYARD INFORMATION “Vines located in the same block can react to their environment in unique ways and No Place Like Home is an exploration of the variation that exists within a single vineyard. Using a mix of drone technology (with a Near Infrared Camera flying 80m above the vineyard) and good, old-fashioned soil analysis, we identified four distinct pockets across the 3 hectare parcel, then harvested and fermented them separately before meticulously blending only the best barrels to produce the most complete wine.”
Reviews
Greg Sherwood 97
"The second premium bottling of this Elgin vineyard, the aromatics illuminate its unique Elgin expression with fabulous ripeness and intensity balanced with purity and pinpoint focus, brimming with sweet black currant, salty black cherries, and melted tar over seductive blue berry hints and a subtle vanilla pod dusting. This really is a very pretty, highly seductive expression of Syrah possessing a deliciously cool climate Elgin freshness and energy on the intense finish. Sam has simply nailed it this vintage. If you missed the rare maiden release, you are in luck as this 2022 is possibly even more accomplished. Drink now and over the next 10+ years." (97/100 Greg Sherwood MW)" [Greg Sherwood, 01/03/2023]
Producer Profile
“Frankly, I have encountered few South Africa wines with such delineation.” – Neal Martin of the 2019 Stars in the Dark Syrah. (97 Pts.)
Sam Lambson makes Syrah. Site-specific, South African Syrah. (And an Experimental Range including a white blend and Grenache Noir.) He has done so for five vintages now (2018 to 2022) under his Minimalist wine brand. Which, as the name suggests, infers minimal intervention in the cellar and, in recent years, has been celebrated for translating terroir straight into the glass “in all its unfettered glory,” as Neal Martin remarks. The three Minimalist Syrahs are from three of South Africa’s coolest (both literally and figuratively speaking) climate winemaking areas, and thus literal liquid gold from Agulhas, Elgin, and a blend of both and the Polkadraai. The resulting Syrahs are what makes South African Syrah one of their most exciting red grapes, and these wines most probably destined to become part of SA’s vinous legacy. Making us thankful for having been able to secure this allocation.
