After a remarkable fourteen-year absence, one of Alto’s most distinctive fortified wines returns to the cellar and the table. The Alto Cape Vintage 2024, once known as Fine Old Vintage, revives a style that was last produced in 2012, bringing with it a new visual identity and a fresh interpretation of the estate’s Shiraz. Crafted by Alto winemaker Bertho van der Westhuizen, the release looks back to an important chapter in the estate’s history while deliberately refusing to simply recreate what came before. The 2024 vintage is instead presented as a contemporary expression of a long standing Alto tradition.
In the glass, the wine reveals a deep magenta hue, followed by an expressive aromatic profile reminiscent of a beautifully composed Negroni, with blood orange, hibiscus and warming baking spices leading the way. Brandy fortification gives the Shiraz additional richness and dimension, unfolding into notes of white pepper, savoury spice, ripe plum and dates. On the palate, finely integrated tannins provide structure while layers of spice and subtle umami gradually emerge, followed by molasses and a delicate touch of cedar imparted by mature French oak. The finish is remarkably persistent, carrying the wine toward an elegant finale of spiced citrus.
Cape Vintage is a style designed for lingering rather than rushing, traditionally enjoyed as the final chapter of a meal. Its richness makes it a natural partner for an elevated cheese course, from aged cheddar and blue cheese to Manchego, while roast duck with orange glaze brings out its darker fruit and citrus character. For a more indulgent conclusion, chocolate-based desserts offer another compelling pairing, while traditionalists may choose to enjoy a glass alongside a fine cigar.
With the return of the 2024 vintage, Alto has reopened a chapter that had been quietly waiting for its next expression. Fourteen years after its previous release, the Cape Vintage returns not as a nostalgic reproduction, but as a wine that carries its heritage forward with renewed character, depth and individuality a reminder that in the world of fine wine, patience can be part of the craft.
