Naude Old Vine Cinsault 2015

From a farm just outside of Darling and vines that were planted in 1978, these old vineyards are impeccably maintained and produce an astounding quality of fruit. The key is to get the correct picking date and the wine takes care of itself.  

Fragrant and elegant, showing the classic Cape Cinsault characteristics of red berries and Turkish Delight. This wine was made with minimal interference, no additions barring some sulphites, and has the potential to age for 30+ years.

CLIMATE / SEASON

The 2015 harvest had the earliest start in decades. A warm, dry and windy summer kept vineyard growth under control and accelerated ripening by approximately two weeks. The dry weather resulted in the healthiest seasons in years. This led to good grape analyses with low PH, good acidity and sugar levels which form the foundation of high quality wines.

WINEMAKING & VINIFICATION

For many years, Cinsault was the stepchild of the South African wine industry. As one of the parents of Pinotage, the cultivar was neglected and never had the chance to show its potential. I was fortunate to find this beautiful Old Vine Cinsault on a farm just outside Darling. This block was very well looked after and never over cropped. When we got the opportunity to use these grapes that were previously sold to co-ops, we gave it a second chance and the result was astounding! The secret of this block is the picking date - regular visits to vineyard, tasting the grapes and understanding the exact day to pick • Picked in small crates and left overnight in cold room to bring temperature down to roughly 10 degrees Celsius • The challenge is to interpret the current vintage conditions in order to balance whole bunch, destemming of grapes and adding stalks (tannins). •

A combination of whole bunch, de-stemmed grapes and stalks go into a stainless steel tank and left until natural fermentation starts • One to two soft pump overs per day and left for roughly 2 weeks, pressed and wine transferred into older 225litre French oak barrels (minimum oxidation during the process) • Barrel aging for 12 – 15 months

ANALYSIS: Alc 12.5% | RS 1.24 g/L | TA 5.7 g/L | pH 3.42 g/L

AGEING POTENTIAL

This wine was released in 2017 and because of minimal interference and no additions, except for a little sulphites, this classic wine has got the potential to age for 30+ years.

RATINGS & ACCOLADES

Greg Sherwood (MW) rated at the Old Vine Project tasting held in London, June 2017 – 95/100 “Naude Old Vine Cinsault 2015 – Altogether more youthful, taut and exotic than the 2014. Shows complex layers of lychee, rose petals, fleshy yellow fruits, raspberry, and bramble berry fruit with a pronounced granitic mineral accent underpinned by chalky tannins. Plenty of structure and intensity. An impressive wine in its youth.” – Greg Sherwood MW, UK 2016

“The 2014 made waves on the Cinsault scene with its broad shoulders and powerful guise. The 2015 is a touch brighter and slightly leaner, sitting at just 12% alcohol. Matured in old oak and made very naturally, it delivers a host of crunchy fruits along with a crystalline freshness and fine texture. It will need a few years to show its best, with the concentration on the back palate suggesting that it may last for a decade or more.” – Wine Cellar

“Ian Naudé might be something of an old hand in the local wine industry but he’s making some of the most appealing new-wave wines around, as these latest releases again show. From a 35- year-old Darling vineyard. Red cherry and cranberry plus a very attractive herbal character and a hint of earthiness. The palate is extraordinarily light and fresh with very fine tannins. A very pretty rendition of the variety.” – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za