Savage Thief In The Night 2025

Savage Thief in the Night is made by Duncan Savage of Savage Wines from dry-farmed bush vines high in the Piekenierskloof. The vineyard sits at around 704 metres above sea level on sandstone soils, an elevated, relatively cool site that helps Grenache retain freshness and acidity while developing concentrated, intensely flavoured fruit. The combination of altitude, dryland farming and ancient sandstone soils gives the wine a distinctly savoury and mineral character rather than the heavier, warmer style sometimes associated with Grenache. Savage Wines takes a gentle, low-intervention approach in the cellar. The fruit is spontaneously fermented with around 20% whole bunches, before maturation in concrete eggs and older 500-litre barrels. The intention is to preserve the purity of the fruit and the character of the high-altitude vineyard, with the oak providing texture and development rather than an obvious oak flavour.

Colour: Bright ruby red with a youthful purple hue.
Nose: Aromatic and expressive, with red cherry, wild strawberry and bramble fruit leading into notes of violets, fynbos, wild herbs and white pepper. Subtle earthy and flinty notes add complexity without overwhelming the fruit.
Palate: Medium-bodied and beautifully textured, combining juicy red and dark berries with fresh acidity and fine, chalky tannins. The high-altitude origin gives the wine an energetic, lifted quality, while the sandstone soils contribute a distinctly stony, savoury edge. The Cinsault adds brightness and delicacy to the Grenache's generous fruit.
Finish: Long and dry, with red cherry, wild berries, pepper and savoury mineral notes lingering on the palate.