Natte Valleij Darling Vineyard Cinsault 2024

Cinsault is Natte Valleij’s speciality. The fruit for the Darling Vineyard cuvée comes from one of their most isolated sites, planted in 1978 on poor Malmesbury shale with a touch of decomposed granite. Facing south‑south‑west, the vineyard catches the cooling afternoon south‑westerly winds blowing in from the Atlantic, just 16 km away. This unique combination of site and climate allows winemaker Alex Milner to craft a wine of exceptional quality, combining attractive aromatics with fine-boned, elegant texture. One of the best Cinsault we've tried, and exceptionally well priced.

94+/100 - Always one of Alex Milner's most aromatically expressive and fragrant Cinsaults made from a 1978 dryland bush vine vineyard, this 2024 has a delightfully light touch 12.5% alcohol from this more harmonious, settle vintage in the Swartland. [...] The nose shows archetypal notes of rose petals, cranberries, pink musk, and Turkish delight with a dusting of wild herbal garrigue-style spice. The 2024 shows a crisp but harmonious palate texture, delicately red fruited and bright with hints of red cherry rock candy developing in the glass before finishing with a cool, mineral restraint. A very pure and precise vintage that will reward early drinking, or else cellar for a further 3 to 5+ years. - Greg Sherwood MW