Illimis new releases

Lucinda Heyns, who has been making wines under own Illimis label since 2015, adopts a low intervention approach to make restrained, sophisticated wines. Tasting notes and ratings for the newly released 2020s as follows:

Illimis Chenin Blanc 2020
Price: R250
W.O. Elgin. Fermented and matured for seven months in older oak. A hint of flinty reduction before pear, peach and a hint of green apple. The palate is wonderfully linear and direct – a dense core of fruit and bright acidity before a savoury finish. Tightly wound now, this needs a good year or two to settle.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Illimis Cinsault 2020
Price: R200
W.O. Darling. Carbonic maceration before maturation lasting seven months in older oak. Sour cherry, raspberry, some floral fragrance and fresh herbs on the nose while the palate is light-bodied and tart in the best sense with a nicely dry finish. Heyns is mildly concerned that it’s too “funky” and while it’s not a safe wine, rather appreciate if for its vigour and interest.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Check out our South African wine ratings database.

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