A shy floral perfume lifts from the glass, layered ripe yet restrained notes of blueberry, plum, and spice. This interplay carries through onto the palate, where rich fruit compote flavours of black cherry, prune, and dark berries are balanced by a frame of creamy, gently spiced oak, seamlessly integrated. The texture is sleek and supple, with a smooth, silky mouthfeel that gives a sense of generosity without excess. Beneath this lies a quiet power and structure, lending shape and depth while remaining composed. Poised and harmonious, the wine shows both precision and depth, with the balance and structure to evolve over time.
Ripe black berry fruits, licorice and a trace of florality can be found on the nose. The palate offers up those same plush, ripe black berries, cherry and licorice along with a deeper, dark herb and earthy element. The sensation is one of dryness, almost a perception of being lean and austere but that’s because the wine is still tightly furled and reined in. It’s supple, sinewy, succulent and rewarding with the fruit and oak seamlessly meshed. The grip is firm without being forceful or too bold or muscular. A wine that needs time to show its true beauty.
An understated whiff of spice and oak mingles with ripe, sweet cherry and blueberry aromas so typical of the grape. The inherent affability and friendly cheerfulness of Cinsault is on full display in this wine, but there’s an impressive restraint and good framework which prevents it from being too straightforward or simple. It’s juicy, succulent, rounded and lively. The palate delivers oodles of youngberry, raspberry, cherry and plum fruit, along with a dusting of baking spices. Rather than trading purely on fruit vivacity it is balanced with gentle tannin backbone and composed structure. Its curves and generosity are unmistakable yet it remains nimble and sprightly with impressive length of flavour.
Genteel, suave and refined, t he nose is complex, layered with cassis, earth, hint of herbs, black cherry and spice. That same elegance is found in the mouth, sleek, supple and velvety on entry. The next element to become apparent is the harmony and balance of the ripe cassis, black cherry and dark berry fruit with succulent acid freshness. Afterwards, the herb, tobacco leaf, cedar and nutty notes make themselves known, along with the appropriately firm angularity of the tannin frame provided by oak maturation. Thrilling, taut and energetic, it’s drinking well now but will comfortably handled a decade or more in bottle.
Complex nose which is a heady mix of inky, hedgerow fruit, trace of spice, dusting of cocoa powder and a brooding baked plum. The palate is immediately engaging in its succulent brightness, with abundant blueberry and black fruit notes. They lead to inky depths with good density where the rich cocoa, cinnamon powder and oak spice flavours are apparent. The ripeness is well judged and offset by its time in oak, cohesive, taut and compact with lovely poise and balance. Tannins are fine and dry and counter the lively acid freshness and fruit vibrance. Impressive, sleek and elegant with a persistent tail.
A subtle floral hint lifts the rich nose of fruitcake, black berries, herb and peppery spice. Ripe, soft-textured and juicy black fruit is the first flavour in the mouth. Vibrant spice – nutmeg, pepper and cinnamon – then make their presence felt, followed by a creamy oak note. The wood, which is harmoniously knit with the fruit and fresh acid, lends both stature, frame and without taking over or dominating. Deeply rewarding with rounded mouthfeel and a long elegant tail. Genteel and refined.
Gentle aromas of fruitcake, dark berries and warm spice rise from the glass, with subtle floral notes and a hint of cracked pepper adding complexity. The palate is supple and textured, echoing the nose with layers of rich berry fruit and gentle fruitcake spice. A lively thread of spice brings freshness and energy, while the velvety mouthfeel adds depth and generosity. Well-integrated oak quietly supports the fruit, creating balance and harmony without dominating. The wine finishes long and poised, with lingering notes of spice and dark fruit. Equally rewarding to enjoy now or to cellar for added complexity.
Gentle aromas of fruitcake, dark berries and warm spice rise from the glass, with subtle floral notes and a hint of cracked pepper adding complexity. The palate is supple and textured, echoing the nose with layers of rich berry fruit and gentle fruitcake spice. A lively thread of spice brings freshness and energy, while the velvety mouthfeel adds depth and generosity. Well-integrated oak quietly supports the fruit, creating balance and harmony without dominating. The wine finishes long and poised, with lingering notes of spice and dark fruit. Equally rewarding to enjoy now or to cellar for added complexity.
Gentle floral nuance and subtle herb note on ripe plum and black cherry nose. The entry is textural: warm, rounded, soft and enveloping. Rich black cherry, mature plum and fruitcake flavours mingle with a lighter spice element. Lovely cohesion of those tasty fruit notes, with spice and structured oak that lends form and backbone without allowing the tannins to dominate or dry out the mouth. It remains fresh and succulent with a polished smoothness and rewardingly long finish.
Gentle nose of blue and black fruit with a brush of spice, dried herb, licorice and a haunting violet floral note. Those same elements can be found in the mouth: the ripe blue and black berry fruits, herb, licorice and spice. It is abundantly fruited but genteel, refined and velvety smooth –but also fresh and succulent. Nothing is overplayed, the palate is structured and integrated with seamless oaking contributing to the soft mouthfeel and texture and framing the fruit well. Rewarding lingering tail and elegant finish.
Cracked black pepper and herb aromas mingle with dark berry fruit compote on the nose. The palate is savoury with a succulence that is both refreshing and moreish. The silky mouthfeel is complemented by the ripe, dark fruit – blackberry and plum – along with a more savoury nuance of olive tapenade, spice and even a charcuterie/meatiness reminiscent of the Northern Rhône. Structured, firm body with integrated tannin demonstrating that the oak is in harmony with the fruit. It’s showing the impact of the prolonged drought in its tautness but will reward patience.
A gentle trace of herby fynbos overlays a sweet ripe plum and blueberry bouquet, tinged with pepper and spice. Silky smooth entry, simultaneously opulent and spicy but restrained and showing a sense of reserve and decorum. Both red and black fruit – blackberry, cherry and plum – are balanced by a taut dryness that make for a clean, refined and elegant mouthful. It is suave and sleek, rather than flashy or obvious. Poised, delivering succulent generosity but with a notable dry tannic frame that promises good longevity and development. It bids farewell with a gentle, lingering softness and flavour memory.
Seductive and alluring spicy dark fruit compote scents mingle with abundant earth and a subtle floral fragrance. Velvety smooth, caressingly suave, supple and rich in the mouth. A textural delight because the mouthfeel is so seductive. Rich black cherry and plum abundance with spice notes lending brightness while the seamlessly integrated oak provides structure. Composed, well balanced with good backbone. The wine is rewardingly long with an inherent elegance and finesse.
Appealing aromas of cherry and raspberry fruit with a trace of bonfire and floral perfume. A wine that whispers seductively rather than shouts. The red fruits promised by the nose are delivered on the palate: maraschino cherry, ripe raspberry and rich fruitcake – all sprinkled with bold spice. A light peppery nuance can be found too, lending the mouthful a vibrance and appealing energy. The buoyant fruit is countered by a deeper, loamy, forest floor element that demonstrates the balance of opposites. The cohesion of light and dark, delicacy and elegance with sinewy power lends agility and wonderful texture and tension of opposites. The oak is so well-knit it’s almost unobtrusive, lending structure and texture. Overall, a complex, rewarding and deliciously persistent mouthful.
Appealing fruitcake aromas and flavours with traces of both spice and gentle floral notes. A warm, rounded, comforting texture marks the first impression of the wine in the mouth. Ripe, fruity and succulent with ample berry and black cherry flavours that are well supported by appropriate, rather than stern or overbearing, dominant oak. Spice and cedar nuances can also be found but it’s the mouthfeel and texture of the wine that really boosts its appeal. It’s approachable and affable but with good backbone and character. Length and poise too. Comfortably a wine that over delivers in many aspects.
