The Story — Twilight in a Glass

City by Dusk is the red companion to City by Dawn — two wines from the same winemaker, same Swartland vintage, same uncompromising approach. The winemaker is André Bruyns, an artisan whose work has quietly caught the eye of South Africa’s most respected critics. We can’t put a label on the bottle, but the wine speaks for itself.

This 2021 red blend is a seamless weave of five classic Rhône varieties coaxed into harmony by a winemaker who knows exactly what this landscape wants to say.

Vintage & Terroir — Swartland, 2021

The Swartland’s ancient schist and granite soils, tempered by Atlantic breezes, are the perfect home for Rhône varieties. The 2021 vintage delivered an even ripening season — warm, long days and cool nights that preserved freshness while building depth and concentration in the red varieties. This is the landscape that inspired a generation of Cape winemakers to let the terroir do the talking.

In the Cellar

André Bruyns favours a hands-off approach: natural fermentation, minimal sulphur, and careful use of oak to support rather than dominate the fruit. The blend — Syrah, Grenache Noir, Tinta Barocca, Cinsault and Mourvèdre — is assembled to create a wine that is greater than the sum of its parts. Structured enough to age, approachable enough to open tonight.

Tasting Notes

Look: Deep garnet with a purple edge — rich and inviting in the glass.

Nose: Juicy mulberries and ripe dark berries lead the way, with wild herbs, white pepper and dried fynbos adding complexity. Magnetic aromatics — classic Swartland, distinctly Southern African.

Palate: Plush and structured. Silky tannins carry ripe dark fruit while savoury layers build on the back palate. Comforting and charismatic — a wine that holds its own across the whole evening.

Finish: Long, with lingering spice and dark berry fruit. A red that rewards those who pause to notice it.

Food Pairing

City by Dusk was made for the South African table. It’s a natural alongside a slow-braised lamb shank, Karoo lamb chops off the braai, spicy boerewors, or a rich oxtail potjie. The blend’s versatility also makes it brilliant with mushroom pasta or a mature cheddar board.

Technical Details

• Variety: Red Blend — 35% Syrah, 25% Grenache Noir, 16% Tinta Barocca, 12% Cinsault, 12% Mourvèdre
• Vintage: 2021
• Region: Swartland, Western Cape
• Winemaker: André Bruyns
• Available as: Individual bottle (750ml) or part of the City Dawn to Dusk 12-bottle combo

Our Guarantee

Every XCellar Limited Edition bottle comes with our 100% happiness guarantee. If this wine isn’t exactly what you were hoping for, let us know and we’ll make it right — no questions asked. That’s the XCellar promise.