A passionate and particularly dynamic winemaker, Jean Smit worked at Rustenberg and Boekenhoutskloof in South Africa, following his experience with prestigious wineries in California and in the iconic vineyards of Stéphane Ogier in Côte Rôtie. Throughout these years, Jean developed his own vision of wine and winemaking, striving to focus on the authentic, natural expression of the terroir. Damascene crafts wines from Syrah, Semillon, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon grown in unforgettable vineyards in Stellenbosch, Swartland, Franschhoek, Ceres Plateau, and Cederberg.
The modern, perfectly designed winery is the perfect place to implement Jean's balanced philosophy. The grapes are placed in a cold room when they arrive there and gravity moves into the concrete vats where fermentation starts due to the yeast naturally present on the grape skins. The red wines age in 2,000-litre Austrian oak barrels and the white wines in 1,000-litre barrels. The wines spends 10 to 11 months ageing before being bottled just after Christmas. No sulphur is used in the winemaking process until a dose is added just before bottling.
When Jean is not in the winery, he is scouring the Western Cape, in South Africa’s south-west region, looking for passionate winemakers producing premium quality grapes. This region enjoys a Mediterranean climate, ocean winds and a wide variety of soils. Covering over 40,000 kilometres each year, Jean unearths parcels with highly distinctive terroir expressions, which he conveys to perfection in each of his cuvées.

These Syrah vines stretch across the Cederberg region of South Africa, at an altitude of around 940 metres, where the topography and cool climate are ideal for viticulture. In the cellar, 30–60% of the fruit, rich in tannins and intense aromas, is fermented in whole bunches. Spontaneous fermentation, using natural yeasts, occurs in large open vats and 1,000-litre casks. Once malolactic fermentation is complete, the wine is aged for 11 months in oak casks.
The deep ruby colour with purple hints unveils a powerful bouquet of black fruits such as plums and blackberries, with a touch of violet and black pepper. The rich, robust mouthfeel is a perfect balance of delicious fruit, acidity and silky tannins, brought together in a velvety texture. This wine may be enjoyed in its youth or after several years of cellaring.