Waterford Estate’s Kevin Arnold Shiraz is a wine that continues one of South Africa’s most respected Shiraz legacies. Rooted on the Helderberg Mountain and guided by a philosophy that intertwines history and innovation, this vintage is a further refinement of its sense of place and style.
The Kevin Arnold Shiraz has long symbolised the passing down of knowledge and craftsmanship. What began with labels bearing just the names of the family’s children has now continued this tradition and now features the grandchildren of the owning family. Wine is about heritage, and this is the quiet but powerful reflection of the past, present, and the future of South African fine wine.
A vintage shaped by precision
The 2021 vintage presented a great opportunity. Good summer heat combined with a longer ripening period resulted in excellent fruit structure and ripeness, while late-season rain demanded careful decision-making in the vineyard. Precise harvest timing proved critical, ensuring concentration, balance, and purity in the final wine.
Tasting notes
The 2021 Kevin Arnold Shiraz opens with a captivating mix of savoury and floral aromatics of smoky chorizo, perfumed violets, and vibrant red and black fruit. Classical Syrah elegance underpins the wine’s bold character. On the palate, velvety tannins, bright acidity, and a subtle mineral edge carry through to a long, linear finish. Poised and structured, this is a wine built for graceful evolution over time.
Built to age
With an ageing potential of 5 to 20 years, the wine will reward patience. Over time, fresh fruit notes will evolve into dried fruit and tertiary savoury characters, with integrated tannins and a refined, mineral-driven finish emerging as the hallmark of maturity.
Wine details
- Cultivars: 91% Shiraz, 9% Mourvèdre
- Alcohol: 13%
- Appellation: Helderberg Mountain, Stellenbosch
- Maturation: 20 months in older French oak
- Ageing potential: 5–20 years
The release of the 2021 Kevin Arnold Shiraz reaffirms Waterford’s commitment to crafting wines of depth, authenticity, and longevity.
