Cinsault, 2023
Formerly dismissed as a blending grape, Donovan’s 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 2023 is 75% Darling and 25% Swartland.
critic reviews
Vintner Donovan Rall says no one championed this grape until recently, but today Cinsault is one of the shining stars of the South African wine scene. The 2023 Coastal Region Cinsault has a fragrant nose and is definitely driven by its bright primary fruit. It is made with 100% whole bunches, something this winemaker has practiced from the beginning. This technique adds freshness and a punchy quality. In 2024, he experimented with submerged cap. The wine ferments in a week's time and then it's over. So, instead of trying to achieve extraction, he keeps it on the skins for a quick five days. The aromas are beautiful, and there is a green brambly note buried within tart cherry and cassis. It reveals medium length but makes up for it with that distinctive freshness.
The 2023 Cinsault comes mostly from Darling, with a touch of Swartland fruit, matured in a 3,000-liter foudre. This wine underwent submerged-cap maceration during fermentation, the first time Rall has done this. It has a superb bouquet with cranberry, pomegranate and (again) light fynbos scents, though not as pronounced as the Red. The palate is medium-bodied with bright Morello cherries, but there is fine structure here and a crunchy, linear finish. Superb.
product details
you may also like
2021 · Red Wine · Syrah
Rall Wines
Syrah, Ava
Case 6 x 75 cl£337.14
Inc Duty & VAT
2022 · White Wine · Chenin Blanc, Verdelho, Viognier
Rall Wines
White
Case 6 x 75 cl£165.94
Inc Duty & VAT
2019 · Red Wine · Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault
Rall Wines
Red
Bottle 75 cl£27.79
Inc Duty & VAT
2021 · White Wine · Grenache
Rall Wines
Grenache Blanc
Case 6 x 75 cl£141.13
Inc Duty & VAT
2022 · White Wine · Chenin Blanc
Rall Wines
Chenin Blanc, Ava
Case 6 x 75 cl£256.73
Inc Duty & VAT
2022 · Red Wine · Syrah
Rall Wines
Syrah
Case 6 x 75 cl£141.13
Inc Duty & VAT
2021 · White Wine · Chenin Blanc
Rall Wines
Chenin Blanc, Noa
Case 6 x 75 cl£254.34
Inc Duty & VAT
