The fruit comes from a small block in Kapteinskloof, near Piketberg in the western reaches of the Swartland. This deep, enclosed valley shelters the vines from much of the midday and late-afternoon sun, creating a distinctly cooler mesoclimate and a slower, more measured ripening season than the broader region.

Lledoner Pelut — Garnacha Peluda in Spain, and often translated as “Hairy Grenache” — is a rare natural mutation of Grenache Noir. Its name refers to the fine down on the underside of the leaves, which forms a protective boundary layer that limits transpiration and helps the vine cope with hot, dry conditions; it is also regarded as somewhat less prone to rot. Traditionally associated with Catalonia and southern France, it can reach flavour and phenolic maturity at lower sugar levels than Grenache Noir, producing paler wines with freshness and fine tannins. Its story forms part of Grenache’s medieval journey through the territories of the Crown of Aragon. In South Africa it remains exceptionally rare, with modern clean plant material first established in the Swartland in 2018.