Off the Record Syrah 2023 (Diners)

Off the Record Wines, created by winemaker Bobby Wallace, focuses on small-production wines that highlight distinctive vineyard sites in the Western Cape. The Off the Record Syrah 2023 is sourced from two cool-climate vineyards planted on Bokkeveld shale soils along the same geological fault line - one at 1,000 metres on the Ceres Plateau and the other in the maritime-influenced Elgin Valley.

These high-altitude and coastal sites experience cooler temperatures and slower ripening, producing Syrah with aromatic lift, freshness and fine structure. The 2023 vintage was made with around 90% whole-bunch fermentation, followed by a period of extended maceration and nine months in older French oak barrels to preserve purity of fruit rather than oak influence.

With only 3,860 bottles produced, the wine reflects a minimal-intervention approach: no commercial yeasts or fining agents and only a light filtration before bottling.

Colour:
Deep ruby red with youthful clarity and a vibrant rim.

Nose:
Fragrant aromas of red berries and black cherry layered with white pepper, violets and subtle herbal notes reminiscent of fynbos and garrigue.

Palate:
Medium-bodied with bright red and dark fruit flavours. The texture is precise and energetic, supported by fine tannins and lively acidity that reflect the wine’s cool-climate origins.

Finish:
Long and savoury with lingering pepper spice, delicate floral notes and a subtle mineral edge.