Van Loggerenberg new releases
By Christian Eedes, 21 March 2018
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Rising star Lukas van Loggerenberg of Van Loggerenberg Wines has now released the rest of his second-vintage 2017s and pretty damn hot they are, too.
Van Loggerenberg Trust Your Gut Chenin Blanc 2017
Approximate retail price: R370
45% Swartland grapes, 45% Polkadraai and 10% from the same Paarl block used for Kameraderie – this wine intended to be a “melting pot of great Chenin” according to Van Loggerenberg. Matured for 10 months in old oak. Subtle but alluring notes of citrus, peach, dried herbs and earth on the nose. The palate is light-bodied but intensely flavoured with bright acidity and a savoury finish. Lovely detail – worthy of contemplation and yet oh, so easy to drink. Alc: 13%
Editor’s rating: 93/100
Van Loggerenberg Kameraderie Chenin Blanc 2017
Approximate retail price: R400
Grapes from a 2ha block in Paarl planted in 1960. Matured for 10 months in old oak. A haunting nose of citrus, peach, herbs and talcum powder. Once again, this wine impresses with how harmonious it is – pure fruit, coated acidity and great length. Intensely flavoured but remarkably light with no apparent gaps from entry through mid-palate to finish. “Effortless to make,” says Van Loggerenberg as testament to the high quality of the fruit, and it shows. Alc: 13%.
Editor’s rating: 96/100.
Van Loggerenberg Breton Cabernet Franc 2017
Approximate retail price: R370
Grapes from two sites in Stellenbosch. Partial whole-bunch fermentation before 10 months of maturation in old oak. Black cherry, violets, fresh herbs and a touch of earth on the nose. Medium bodied with lovely freshness and pleasantly grippy tannins. Balanced, nuanced and that much more obviously pleasurable than the 2016 vintage. Alc: 12.5%.
Editor’s rating: 93/100.
Van Loggerenberg Graft Cinsault Syrah 2017
Approximate retail price: R370
55% Cinsault and 45% Syrah, both vineyards in Polkadraai, Stellenbosch. Both parcels underwent 100% whole-bunch fermentation before 10 months of maturation in old oak. A touch of reduction before red and black fruit, white pepper and cinnamon. Medium bodied and very approachable – juicy fruit and relatively soft tannins.
Editor’s rating: 92/100.
For reviews of Break-a-Leg Blanc de Noir 2017 and Geronimo Cinsault 2017, see here.
Find our South African wine ratings database here.
Jak | 21 March 2018
Awesome wines, but cant deny the pricing is ambitious for some maiden and second vintage wines…