Coterie by Wildeberg Cinsault Rosé 2021
By Christian Eedes, 25 March 2022
The Wildeberg brand belongs to Boutinot, the UK wine company originally founded by prominent industry figure Paul Boutinot, but which was bought out by management in 2013. Needing a home for its SA operations, Boutinot acquired a 140ha lifestyle farm in Franschhoek in 2016 which has now taken on the Wildeberg name. JD Rossouw, previously of DGB, was appointed winemaker in September 2017 while 10ha of vineyard consisting of Chardonnay, Semillon, Petite Sirah and Syrah was planted in 2018, a 350-tonne capacity cellar coming on line just in time for this year’s harvest (Rossouw has a mandate to identify great sites across the Western Cape).
The wines from Rossouw and team have been showing promise in our category tastings – The Tea Leaf 2020 made under the Wildeberg experimental label Strange Kompanje was our best Cape White Blend last year with a rating of 94, just ahead of Coterie by Wildeberg Chenin Blanc & Grenache Blanc 2020 also on 94, for instance.
Another wine to catch the eye recently is the Coterie by Wildeberg Cinsault Rosé 2021, a wine inspired in part by a visit that Rossouw made to famous Provence producer Château d’Esclans. From Agter Paarl grapes, it was matured for some five months in old 600-litre barrels. Pale onion skin in colour, the nose shows subtle floral perfume and red berries while the palate is light, fresh and dry. It’s delicate but not insipid. Price: R170 a bottle.
CE’s rating: 91/100.
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