A benchmark old-vine Cinsault from the heart of Franschhoek.

The 2025 vintage marks Lukas van Loggerenberg’s tenth under his own label. A decade shaped by enduring relationships with exceptional old vineyards and the families who have farmed them for generations. Following a cold winter and mild growing season, the harvest unfolded slowly and naturally, allowing each vineyard to be picked at its point of balance. The resulting wines are defined by purity, precision and composure, expressing both the character of the 2025 vintage and Lukas’s deepening understanding of these remarkable sites.

Sourced from a remarkable vineyard planted in 1932 in Franschhoek, where old bush vines grow in iron-rich granite and sandstone soils amongst plum orchards. Named after the Lötter family, now the fifth generation to care for this treasured site, the wine is a celebration of heritage, place and meticulous farming. Fermented with 100% whole bunches before spending 10 months in seasoned 500-litre French oak barrels, it is a beautifully pure expression of old-vine Cinsault that captures both the elegance of the variety and the character of this historic vineyard.

Tasting notes: Lifted aromas of cranberry, red cherry and ripe plum are intertwined with floral perfume, fresh herbs and a subtle hint of menthol. The palate is beautifully concentrated yet wonderfully vibrant, with lively acidity carrying pure red berry fruit across a framework of fine, tightly knit tannins. There is remarkable clarity and precision throughout, finishing long, bone dry and effortlessly elegant. It is a wine of finesse rather than power, with the structure and balance to reward patient cellaring.

Food pairing: A beautifully poised Cinsault that shines alongside refined, flavour-driven cuisine. Duck: Roast duck breast with a cherry or cranberry glaze complements the wine's vibrant red fruit and silky texture. Game Birds: Roast quail or guinea fowl enhance its floral perfume and savoury herbal notes. Vegetarian Dishes: Beetroot carpaccio, grilled oyster mushrooms or lentil and walnut tart echo its earthy complexity without overwhelming its delicacy. 

ANALYSIS: ALC 13.34% | TA 4.9 g/L | pH 3.60 | RS 1.8 g/L

From a Franschhoek vineyard planted in 1932. 100% whole-bunch fermented. Matured for 10 months in third-fill 500-litre barrels. Cranberry, cherry, plum, a hint of menthol, floral perfume and fresh herbs on the nose. Concentrated fruit, lively acidity and tightly knit tannins, that manage to be fine yet grippy, the finish long and bone-dry. Great clarity, weight and drive – very precise in its geometry. Alc: 13.34%. CE’s rating: 97 | Serious - Winemag.co.za