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91POINTS
16¾/20
Natte Valleij Simonsberg Paarl Cinsault 2018
Simonsberg-Paarl, Paarl, Coastal Region, South AfricaYoung 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 old vine Cinsault across the Western Cape, expressing their individualities through low-interference winemaking. These bush vines were planted on decomposed granite in 1993, and face northwest in the protection of Simonsberg Mountain. They are the youngest in the Collective, picked early and fermented with 10% stems, and aged in 300L barriques for one year. Such a charmer, with wild raspberry at the fore, led by strawberry jam, spring rhubarb, pink peppercorn, subtle anise running a long, slender frame. Tannins are barely felt, but house this pretty red to a spiced, bitter cherry ending. Drinking smartly now, especially with a chill.Tasted: 28 December 2020Tasted by: Treve RingPrices:| BC | $49.00 | 750ml | private wine shops |
Grape: Cinsault
