Groote Post Salt of the Earth 2022

In fashion, hemlines rise and fall, supposedly in sync with stock prices. Wine styles evolve, too, though brevity in this instance prevents me from speculating why.

Darling producer Groote Post has just released the 2022 vintage of its red blend, Salt of the Earth. Previously a Shiraz-Cinsault blend with the former dominant, the proportions have now flipped in pursuit of a “more vibrant, more elegant” style, as per the producer’s recent X post.

To be specific, it’s a blend of 60% Cinsault and 40% Shiraz, the wine matured for 15 months in 500-litre barrels, 50% new. On the nose, red and black berries with subtle top notes of rose and fynbos and more obvious base notes of cured meat, spice, earth and a whiff of vanilla.

The palate shows juicy fruit, snappy acidity and grippy, slightly coarse tannins, the finish savoury (alc: 13.5%). It’s a wine that’s moving in the right direction stylistically but would probably be even better without any new oak. Price: R315 a bottle.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

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