Van Loggerenberg Break a Leg Blanc de Noir 2023
By Christian Eedes, 14 March 2025
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Local rosé is no longer the subject of outright ridicule, and one of the key producers who has driven this shift is surely Lukas van Loggerenberg. A long-time champion of serious pink wines, his latest release – the 2023 vintage – is once again on the money.
Sourced from a Helderberg Cinsault vineyard, the wine is crafted from three separate pickings: the first two fermented in old oak, while the ripest lot sees stainless steel. The nose is delicately perfumed with notes of orange, potpourri, herbs, and spice. On the palate, it offers impressive fruit density balanced by well-integrated acidity (alc: 12.2%). The texture is smooth in the best sense, the finish gently savoury, the overall vinosity spot on. Price: R160 per bottle.
CE’s rating: 91/100.
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Mike Froud of Top Wine SA | 15 March 2025
Shouldn’t “spot on” equate to 93+ ? Is it inconceivable that a (non-bubbly) South African rose could rate higher than 95?
Christian Eedes | 15 March 2025
Hi Mike, I think we should celebrate the fact that South Africa is now producing several rosés that score 90-plus. As noted in the 2023 Rosé Report:
“The last time Winemag.co.za (or Wine magazine, as it was then known) conducted a formal tasting of the category was for the January 2008 issue. At the time, there was little to get excited about. Of the 100-plus wines assessed, only five earned a Three-Star rating, with nothing scoring higher, while far too many languished in One-Star territory.”
Is there a glass ceiling for rosé? Perhaps. My instinct is that true complexity is inherently difficult to achieve, given the typical winemaking processes involved.
FrankH | 14 March 2025
There’s really just a (very petite) handful of decent rosés in South Africa (perhaps led by Vine Venom’s outstanding Shining?). But why’s that? With Eben Sadie testing the field with his Voëlvry rosé this should be a wake up call for the industry. In Spain, France and Germany there are rosé icons, selling for triple digit (euro, not rand) amounts – and many others producing thrilling rosés beyond the sweet stuff from the supermarket shelves. Why is the Cape lagging so much behind here?
Kwispedoor | 14 March 2025
This is definitely one of our top 5 rosés, at the very least. And it ages well, too. Furthermore, it’s not priced aspirationally either. I know it’s a big category nowadays, but – for me – this is one of only a small handful of rosés that’s actually worthwhile to buy.