Cinsault, 2022
Formerly dismissed as a blending grape, this straight Cinsault is what we call “Rall’s Riposte”. When picked early and worked gently, Cinsault offers delicious, playful fruits and lots of aroma, with more than enough substance to stand on its own. Donovan likes to think of it as his version of Gamay. From two parcels, one in the Swartland and one in Darling, the Swartland component brings structure and Darling the perfume (he shares this with Duncan Savage for his “Follow the Line”). Whole bunch fermentation on the Darling and 50% on the Swartland, the 2022 is majority Darling fruit, and it has a ripe, sweet-fruited nature. Darker berries, currants and plum with earthbound spice, it has a more baritone style in 2022.
critic reviews
Sharing the same vineyard with Duncan Savage for his Follow The Line bottling, the 2022 Cinsault is expressive with cherries and spicy potpourri essences that flow from the glass. Medium-bodied, the palate is spicy and succulent with fine-grained tannins, offering a delightful mineral tension before ending with a spicy and floral finish. Give it another year in the bottle, and enjoy it for a decade. Nicely done.
The 2022 Cinsault leans more towards fruit sourced from Darling, which Rall remarked is more perfumed. It has a sense of plushness on the nose with blackberry, raspberry coulis, rose petals and light aniseed aromas. The palate has a wonderful spiciness from the 100% whole bunches and the terroir. Very elegant in style, but the finish has real weight and structure. Very long in the mouth. Recommended.