Waterford Kevin Arnold Shiraz

Shiraz is a variety known for its ability to express the terroir in which it is grown, to impart a sense of place to the drinker. In this instance, the vineyards are located on the Helderberg Mountain in the Stellenbosch wine region, a terroir known for its unique character of fruit-forward bolder wines.

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The Wine 

The wine shows aromatics of delicate violets, dark plum fruits and licorice notes which have layered subtle notes of earthiness and leather spice, brought in by the Mourvedre component. 

The palate follows the aromatics of the nose with similar violet and earthy spice notes. The tannins presented are soft and granular with a fruit-forward finish due to the use of strictly older barrels for aging.

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The Vineyard 

Waterford Estates vineyards are located on the North facing slope of the Helderberg Mountain with soils comprising primarily of decomposed sandstone and granite with the lower layer consisting of nutrient-rich red clay. This specific soil combination is what gives Waterford Estate its classic style of wines. The north-facing slope allows for ample sunlight to ripen the vineyard, while the cooler ocean breeze slows the tannin ripening and creates our classic character.

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Winemaking 

Following a more old-world style of winemaking, the Kevin Arnold Shiraz is matured in 300L and 500L old French Oak Barrels. This allows the wine to be more fruit-forward in nature and allows the aromatic spices to shine through. The wine is blended with some Mouvedre which brings in subtle notes of earthiness and leather spice, thus adding complexity and depth to the wine.

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Wine Fact

The first wine Waterford Estate ever made was the Kevin Arnold Shiraz back in 1998, and from its release, the wine has been a benchmark Shiraz for the South African Wine Industry. 

While it is called a Shiraz the wine is in fact made in the old-world style of Syrah, boasting a softer tannin profile with more fruit-forward characteristics. This naming convention was chosen as Waterford Estate and South Africa are considered to be a New World Winery and region respectively thus sticking to the new convention cements our belief in the new world wine ideology.

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Awards

Tim Atkin SA Special Report 2022 – 93 points; Platter’s Wine Guide 2023 – 4.5 Stars

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