"I really love this wine as it isn't as heavy as many other pure Carignans that you can find from Spain or France. It is more fruit forward with a beautiful array of red fruit on the nose. Baked raspberry tart with red plums and cherries to boot. The palate is juicy and soft, like you could expect, with soft tannins yet a decent structure. It will keep giving for quite some time but is drinking so well now I don't know how you have the will power to hold some back."

--------THE PRODUCER--------

Testalonga

Testalonga is headed by Craig Hawkins, South Africa’s nominated “Natural Wine King”. He, and his wife Carla, are producing some of the more innovative wines in the country at the moment sourcing most of their grapes from farmers with old vine plots scattered across Paardeberg Swartland. Thanks to their loyal growers they are able to get access to incredibly ripe grapes such as Grenache, Chenin Blanc, Muscat, Carignan and Harslevelu.

--------THE GRAPE--------

Carignan

Carignan is the most common name for this fantastic red grape which is odd as it is believed to have originated in Spain in the region of Priorat. In France, it is used as a blending component in the reds of the Southern Rhone Valley or across the Languedoc-Roussillon regions of southern France. However, it is in the region of Priorat where it really stands out both as a single varietal wine or blended with Garnacha. It also goes under the guise of Carinena or Mazuelo.

--------THE REGION--------

Swartland

Swartland is a small area that is just north of the Paarl district. It is surrounded by mountains - the most famous of which is the Paardeberg. It has quite a varied topography with shallow valleys and high slopes in the foothills of the mountains which allows for a wide variety of wines to be made here. Overall it is known for its extremely ripe and complex Riesling and Chenin Blancs and its fruit-forward Syrahs.

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