Natte Valleij 2020 Stellenbosch Cinsault 750ml

Young winemaker Alex Milner suddenly became very cinsault-centric when a professor told him not to bother reading the cinsault chapter in his textbook because it would be worthless to him. Fast forward from that 2011 conversation to today, and The Natte Valleij Cinsault Collective. Alex set out to find forgotten patches of older Cinsault across the Western Cape, expressing their individualities through low-interference winemaking. This is from old bush vines planted in 1974 in Helderberg Mountain’s sea-facing shadows and decomposed granite soils, and is the last to be picked each vintage due to its cooler site. After a 24 hour cold maceration this is fermented over 2 weeks, and then left undisturbed in concrete egg for 11 months. Lithely muscular, and graceful on its feet, this charms with fragrant raspberry, spring rhubarb, morello cherry, and tart cranberry acidity, scented with candle wax and stony smoke. Tannins are soft and fine, hugging this to a white pepper and crushed stone finish. Enjoy with a slight chill.

Score: 90 points -- Treve Ring, gismondionwine.com, 2022