Kleine Zalze Winery’s Project Z range has struck gold in the 2024 Platter’s Guide, with its Grenache Noir securing the coveted title of Grenache Noir of the Year. Amongst over 8,000 wines and spirits in the competition, the Kleine Zalze Project Z Grenache 2022 stood out with a top-tier five-star rating, reserved for wines scoring 95 points and above.
This distinction places the Grenache in an elite league of 226 wines earning the highest honors in the guide. Hailing from the cool Darling region, this exceptional Grenache embodies the essence of Project Z, marrying innovative techniques with terroir-driven excellence. A portion of the fruit underwent whole-bunch fermentation in stainless steel, followed by nine months of aging in clay amphorae, a hallmark of the Project Z range.
RJ Botha, Kleine Zalze’s cellarmaster, attributes this success to the quality of Darling’s grapes, lauding the region’s slow ripening process that brings out the best in Grenache. He emphasizes the wine’s expression of vibrant red and dark fruit, lively acidity, subtle spice, and earthy undertones, all encapsulated by the exceptional terroir of Cape West Coast’s maritime conditions.
Botha further adds, “Amidst a landscape of remarkable Grenache wines in the modern Cape wine scene, securing the title of Best Grenache in the Platter’s Guide is an immense honor, a testament to the exceptional quality of our wine.”
