Blackwater ‘Omerta’ Carignan 2021

Omerta is named after the Mafia term "code of silence". This 100% (once upon a time) illicit Carignan is supposedly the only Carignan that Jancis Robinson has said to have enjoyed...

Carignan has a wonderfully savoury side. There is plenty of dark plum and blackberry fruit, but it's joined by black pepper, dried herbs, dried flowers and a subtle earthy character. The tannins are big but polished, while a fresh streak of acidity keeps everything in harmony. If you enjoy Rhône reds, old-vine Grenache, this is well worth exploring. Serve with grilled lamb, slow-cooked beef, roast duck or a generous cheeseboard.

Blackwater is the personal project of winemaker François Haasbroek, one of South Africa's most respected small-scale producers. Having worked around the world before returning to the Cape, François built Blackwater around a simple philosophy: seek out exceptional vineyards, intervene as little as possible, and let the site do the talking. Rather than following trends, he has become known for championing overlooked grape varieties and old vineyards, producing wines that are distinctive, characterful and unmistakably South African. Omerta has become something of a cult wine, named after the code of silence because François originally refused to reveal where the fruit came from for fear another winemaker would snap up the vineyard.