2 x 3 litre Kershaw Single Vineyard Deconstructed Wines, one bottle of each: 2018 Lake District Cartref SH22 Syrah and 2019 Lake District Bokkeveld Shale CY96 Chardonnay

The inspiration for the Deconstructed wines stems from Richard’s belief that the Elgin region boasts credentials that make it world-class. To bolster these credentials, he set out to prove that Elgin has both signature grapes and specific ‘terroirs’/meso-climates that reflect intra-regional distinctions. To fully comprehend this, digging deeper into the DNA that makes up the Elgin region is necessary. These wines are made in small volumes, exclusively selected from a specific vineyard and an individual clone. Importantly, this is an ongoing story that will unfold over the coming years.

Sourced from a single parcel in the western part of Elgin, the SH22 clone produces fuller, well-coloured, yet finely structured Syrahs. They tend to be more concentrated as yields are low, with more black fruit, black pepper and meaty notes. The Cartref soils, a mixture of decomposed granite, pebbles and quartz, add gracefulness and heighten the fruit intensity.

Sourced from the western part of Elgin, known as the “Lake District”, clone CY96 (currently Richard’s favourite Chardonnay clone) produces wines that are nervous, aromatic, elegant, finely balanced and crisp with slightly lower alcohol, the fruit profile being subtle with hints of citrus/orange peel and peach blossom and with time, some nutty elements. The Bokkeveld Shale brings amplified perfume to the nose and persistence and elegance to the palate. For the 2019 vintage, this wine has a light yellow-platinum colour. A beguiling perfume of white gardenia, jasmine and sweet pea flowers with a salt - like smelling seashell - character. There is a tremendous line and length on the mid-palate with a striking acidic tension, quick and focussed. Sweet lemon, soft oatmeal, jasmine, pastry flakes and lemon cream as one caress and brush the palate to make for a delicate, cleansing palate that seems to go on for an age - little by little revealing nuances of mineral oak spices and cayenne.

These wines are packed in wooden boxes.