Avondale Jonty’s Ducks Pekin Red 2021, Paarl, South Africa, Organic

Jonty’s Ducks Pekin Red comes from Avondale, the certified organic estate in the Paarl Valley where a flock of Pekin ducks patrols the vineyards, eating snails and pests so that no chemical sprays are needed. Led by Shiraz, it is blended with Cabernet Sauvignon and smaller amounts of other Bordeaux varieties. The grapes are hand-harvested, fermented in stainless steel and then aged in French oak to add structure and spice.

In the glass it is a deep, dark ruby. The nose shows cassis, blackberry, pepper and dried herbs, with hints of liquorice and dark chocolate. The palate is ripe and juicy, with cherry, plum and raspberry fruit, fresh acidity and smooth, well-integrated tannins.

Serve at around 14–16°C. It is a natural partner for burgers, barbecued meats, steak, braised dishes, pasta with rich tomato sauces, aubergine parmigiana and cheese and charcuterie boards. It is drinking well now and will keep for the next few years.

Avondale is a historic 160-hectare estate in the Paarl Valley, with more than 300 years of farming history, now owned by the Grieve family. Since 1997, Johnathan Grieve has run the property, reshaping around 70 hectares of vineyards over 13 different soil types under the guiding principle ‘Terra est Vita’, or ‘soil is life’. The estate is farmed organically and biodynamically, and its most famous workers are a flock of Pekin ducks that patrol the vines each day, eating snails and other pests so that no chemical sprays are needed. The winery is gravity-fed, parcels are vinified separately and some wines are even made in clay qvevri. The Jonty’s Ducks range is named after those ducks and their keeper, Johnathan ‘Jonty’ Grieve.