Cape Jaffa En Soleil Shiraz 2022

The oak sits very much at the fore on entry, with cedar, vanilla, and leather giving way to baked black plum, clove, coal, black pepper, and black cherry. Beneath it all is a meaty nuance—charred and cured. The palate has a cool, lifted feel, anchored by firm oak and fruit tannins. Black plum leads the way, supported by more subtle notes of clove, leather, and vanilla, with gentle pepper spice beneath. The tannins are firm and grainy, a touch of heat present, leading to a dark chocolate-infused finish of decent length. There’s an elegance to the fruit despite the hefty oak and structure. I’d be interested to see this in 10 years.