Ex Animo De Keur Grenache 2022

David and Jeannette Clarke of wine distribution company Ex Animo have released the maiden vintage of a Ceres Plateau Grenache under their own label. It’s a compelling project with some of the leading industry personalities involved: the vineyard is on Jeannette’s family farm, where apples and pears are cultivated; Chris Alheit first alerted them to the potential of the site; Rosa Kruger advised regarding all things viticultural; and Lukas van Loggerenberg is the winemaker.

The vineyard, just under 3ha in size, is planted to four clones, 50% being the traditional GN70 that provides the perfume that so many local examples of the variety show and the other 50% to new 513, 516 and 1064 which give darker colour and more fruit concentration.

The 2022 is the fifth leaf but only the first harvest. Grapes were destemmed with 20% of stalks added back while maturation lasted nine months in old 300-litre barrels. Cranberry, rose, herbs and white pepper on the nose while the palate shows good fruit concentration (alcohol is 13.85%) with zesty acidity and fine, densely packed tannins. Nice weight and smoothness of texture, a slight earthy quality to the finish. An immensely promising debut. Price: R245 a bottle.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

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