A Syrah With Something to Say

Some wines ask you to study them. Others just ask you to pour another glass. The Benguela Cove Syrah 2022 is firmly in the second camp, and that, in the end, is a finer compliment. Grown on the shores of Walker Bay, where the Atlantic keeps things cool and the land does not rush, this is a wine that tastes honestly of where it comes from.

What Walker Bay does to a Syrah

The Benguela Current sweeps up from Antarctica along South Africa's southern coastline, keeping Walker Bay measurably cooler than most of the country's wine regions. For Syrah, that matters. The grape is at its most interesting when it has time to ripen slowly, building flavour and keeping the savoury edge that makes it worth paying attention to.

The 2022 shows you exactly that. It is peppery, earthy, and a little wild, with a freshness that stops it from feeling heavy. This is not a wine trying to be the Northern Rhône. It is a wine from the Western Cape that has settled into its own identity, and that confidence comes through in every sip.

Why this wine has soul

Soul is a word that gets misused in wine writing, usually when someone has run out of specific things to say. So let me be precise.

The Benguela Cove Syrah 2022 does not perform. It arrives without fanfare and without the kind of polish that irons out character. It is savoury and direct, and it rewards the sort of attention you give a good meal rather than a tasting note. Platter's Wine Guide 2025 awarded it 4.5 stars, Gilbert & Gaillard gave it Double Gold, and James Suckling scored it 91, which speaks to the consistency and care behind every bottle.

It is also, and this is worth saying plainly, honest about what it costs. You can drink this well without spending the kind of money that makes you reluctant to open a second bottle.

What to drink it with?

This is a wine built for food. Slow-roasted lamb is the obvious match, and it holds up beautifully, but the Syrah is not demanding. A rich mushroom pasta, a beef potjie, or whatever comes off the braai (South African barbecue) on a weekend afternoon, all of these work. The earthy, savoury character in the wine anchors itself alongside bold flavours without crowding them out.

For something slightly more considered, try it with a charcuterie board and aged hard cheese. The pepper in the wine and the salt in the meat do something quietly interesting together.

Six bottles for the price of five

Until 30 June 2026, Benguela Cove is offering a deal worth noting: buy five bottles and receive one free, or buy five cases and receive one free. It rewards people who already know this wine, and it is a sound argument for those who do not to get acquainted.

You can order via the online shop, visit the cellar door at the estate near Hermanus, or contact the wine sales team directly.

Frequently Asked Questions