Welgegund Providence 2021

Established in 1777, Welgegund Heritage Wines is a historic family-owned wine estate nestled beneath the Hawequa Mountains in Wellington, South Africa. The region's hot, dry summers, cooler winters and decomposed granite soils provide a distinctive setting for the estate's heritage vineyards, where old bush vines produce fruit with concentration and character. Welgegund's winemaking philosophy centres on expressing the vineyard and vintage through careful fruit selection and minimal intervention. Its Providence 2021 is a Rhône-style red blend that brings together Syrah, Cinsault and Grenache Noir, three varieties well suited to Wellington's growing conditions. Each variety was harvested at optimum ripeness and fermented separately to preserve its individual character. The Syrah and Grenache Noir were fermented in open fermenters, while the Cinsault was fermented in new French oak barrels. Whole-bunch fermentation played an important role in the winemaking, and 50% of the final blend was matured in barrels for 16 months. Bottled unfiltered in September 2022, Providence 2021 reflects Welgegund's considered approach to blending expressive fruit with spice, texture and structure.

Colour: An attractive garnet-red colour with a vibrant ruby edge.
Nose: An inviting combination of red berries, blackberries and pomegranate is complemented by white pepper, fragrant lavender and a hint of spearmint. Subtle liquorice notes add further complexity.
Palate: Medium-bodied, juicy and elegant, with flavours of red cherry and raspberry layered with hints of chocolate and coffee. The fruit is supported by soft, rounded tannins and refreshing acidity, while the combination of varieties brings both savoury spice and depth.
Finish: A lingering finish of red and dark berries, gentle spice and liquorice, with the smooth tannins leaving a refined, savoury impression.