2024 Lukas van Loggerenberg Lotter Cinsault

From Cinsault vines planted in 1932, the 2024 Lotter needs a lot of TLC and this vintage it suffered a weevil attack. Consequently, only 770 bottles were made. There were tears, according to Van Loggerenberg. Matured with 100% whole bunch in used French oak, it has a fragrant cassis nose that shows no sign of disease pressure. The palate is crunchy, more linear and stricter than the Geronimo cuvee, bone dry and almost penetrating on the finish. This is a great success, albeit tiny in quantity. 92 points

Lotter`s 1.4 hectares produced just 770 bottles in 2024, so you might have to join the queue to get some. Rich and concentrated, especially for a Cinsault, it`s reminiscent of a Piedmontese Nebbiolo in some ways, with lots of grip and tannic backbone, wafts of rose petal and black tea, impressive old-vine density and textured whole bunch spices. 94 points