2018 Leeu Passant Cinsault Lotter Franschoek Mullineux

The 2018 Old Vines Lötter Cinsault has a gorgeous bouquet of lifted red cherries, crushed strawberry and a touch of shoe leather, all very well defined and focused. The palate is well balanced with a lightly spiced entry, a fine bead of acidity and a caressing texture. Chinese five-spice and notes of sage appear toward the complex finish. This is an excellent Cinsault from Andrea and Chris Mullineux.

A polished red, medium-bodied and balanced, with light, creamy tannins enmeshed with flavors of strawberry preserves, mulled plum, dried sage and subtle, smoke-laced charcoal. Drink now through 2024.

Tasted blind. Relatively dark in colour. Good depth, an interesting combination of fruit and herbs. Medium-bodied, juicy and fruity, quite generous and intense, a concentrated style. Little touch of well-integrated oak works well. The alcohol is a little raised, but this is otherwise very good.

92P+: Made from vines originally planted in 1932, the dry-farmed 2018 Leeu Passant Old Vines Lotter Cinsault displays a classic ruby core and aromas of dark cherry, plum skin, dusty black raspberry and hints of wild brush and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is spicy with dusty red fruit and reminds me of a young Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with subtle baking spices, rocky mineral tension and lifted structure with firm tannins across the mid-palate. Ending with a tightly wound finish, this should easily last until its 10th birthday. This is an absolutely delightful, age-worthy and food-friendly Cinsault. Bravo!