2024 Van Loggerenberg Lotter Cinsault

A vineyard planted in 1932. In 2024 the vines were attacked by weevils, and he bottled only 770 bottles. 100% whole bunch, aged in French oak barrels.
Some wines taste like the wind keening between the horizon and the sun rise. A cello, a poem, calligraphy. Curlicue. The tannins are strong, silent, sinuous. Iron and rust, violets and peonies. The smell of storm, of jacarandas, the quiet sense after a storm, damsons. Sifting between the weight of storm air and the feel of thunder. A very special wine. Needs a quiet place and all your attention. 18 points

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