Orpheus & The Raven Eye Of The Tiger 2023

Drink it now or cellar for up to 8 years. No need to decant, but best to open it half an hour before service. South African boutique winery Orpheus & The Raven works with small vineyard lots and a minimal-intervention philosophy to create handcrafted wines that are a pure expression of the terroir's character. Produced in limited quantities (just over 2,000 bottles), Eye of the Tiger (also called Cinsault Le Beton) is a Cinsault made with grapes sourced from a vineyard located in Bottelary Hills, Stellenbosch. After harvesting, hand-pressing, and a three-day cold maceration, fermentation takes place with selected yeasts. The finished wine is then aged first in used French oak barrels for five months, then for another six months in 1,600-liter Cellier concrete vats with an exterior "Tiger's Eye" finish (which, of course, gives the wine its name). In the glass, the wine reveals a clear, light ruby color. Its aromatic profile is fresh and fragrant with notes of raspberry, cherry, and strawberry, followed by light spicy notes and hints of cedar. On the palate, it is juicy and fruity, youthful and rounded, with a well-balanced acidity, fine and delicate tannins, and a mineral note that lingers on the finish. It is the ideal wine for pork: it pairs well with grilled ribs or roasted fillet.