This week we bottled the 2006 vintage of The Very S~xy Shiraz. Ideally, we’d hold off releasing the wine for at least six months to allow the wine to get over the inevitable bottle shock. We’re guessing that some of this distress may well be the product of claustrophobia (this wine is big – think Du Plessis brothers and Messrs Spies and Matfield inside a Citi Golf).

But we’re out of stock of the 2004 vintage, so we’re under pressure to get the next instalment out. However, truth be told, we’re so excited that we just can’t wait to get this wine into the market. It has all the attributes that have made Shiraz the most popular red wine in South Africa, and Darling the budding centre of the Shiraz universe. It is dense and chewy; it gushes fruit (kept in focus by a year’s maturation in French oak barrels). And, while it doesn’t exactly tip-toe across the palate like the dance of the Sugarplum Fairie, it is not without grace and elegance.

At the personal request of Tito Mboweni, who is becoming increasingly concerned at the rising cost of baskets of household goods, we have kept the price of the 2006 vintage at the level of the 2004 (soixante-neuf – R69). We should point out that Shiraz fruit of this quality, given this kind of barrel treatment (50% of the barrels were new) could be expected to retail for over R100.

Crucible, again

This week, also, Wine magazine announced the results of the Pick ‘n Pay Shiraz Challenge. Crucible Shiraz 2004 was one of the two wines leading the (189-strong) pack, with four-and-a-half stars. At the risk of appearing boastful we’re not going to dwell on the lengthy list of awards and gold medals won by the two vintages of Crucible. Let’s just say it’s a wine that we’re proud to be associated with. Apart from its obvious power (for which we make no apologies, even to the classicists) it is a wine that – vintage after vintage – delivers an ethereal edge to its flavour profile that we cannot describe in any other way than ‘Crucible’. This has to be the highest compliment that any wine can get.

Its singularity is the capricious bounty of nature. Sadly, since 2002 this bounty has only been bestowed in 2003, 2004 and 2006. There will be no 2005 or 2007. We do hope that we can manage a 2008 vintage. Don’t be surprised to see a proliferation of Pagan activities at Cloof as we aim to curry favour with Mother Nature!

Special Launch Offer – The Very S~xy Shiraz

The 2006 vintage of Crucible will be released towards the end of the year. This wine benefits from the vineyards becoming more mature, and in our opinion is showing even more promise than the ’03 and ’04. If we get an ’08 vintage the ’06 will be the only Crucible available until the latter part of 2009.

Our launch offer on the 2006 The Very S~xy Shiraz is a little unusual, in that we are giving away one Crucible Future with the purchase of 6 bottles of S~xy Shiraz (R424 including delivery). This Future will entitle the holder to purchase one bottle of the 2006 Crucible Shiraz at the price of the 2004.

We’ve linked up with Flagship Private Asset Management (www.flagshipsa.com) to hold the register of Crucible Futures, which makes them fully tradeable.

Could Crucible Futures one day be listed by the Chicago Board of Trade alongside Lean Hogs and Corn Bushels? Who knows, but you have the opportunity of getting in on the ground floor.

So, rush in your orders for The Very S~xy Shiraz 2006 (offer closes on 27 July 2007, and is available within South Africa only). It’s a fantastic wine, and you get preferential access to Crucible Shiraz at a discounted price.