Van Loggerenberg new releases

Lukas van Loggerenberg.

Lukas van Loggerenberg, who launched his own label in 2016, describes 2023 as his easiest harvest yet in terms of logistics. “There were no bottle-necks and it meant I nailed my pickings,” he says. Tasting notes and ratings as follows:

Trust Your Gut Chenin Blanc 2023
Price: R370
65% Paardeberg, 35% Polkadraai Hills. Matured for 10 months in older 500-litre barrels. Pear, peach, citrus, fynbos and a little struck-match reduction. Lean and taut on the palate – lovely fruit definition, full of pep, the finish extremely long and pithy.

CE’s rating: 96/100.

Kameraderie Chenin Blanc 2023
Price: R535
Grapes from two Paardeberg vineyards, one planted in 1966 and the other in 1980, the older vineyard fermented and matured for 10 months in concrete tank, the younger in 500-litre barrels. Peach, citrus, fennel and some flinty reduction. The palate is super-dense with punchy acidity and a deeply savoury finish. All elements of the wine very tightly gathered, the result being something extraordinarily balanced and seamless. Alc: 12.6%.

CE’s rating: 98/100.

Geronimo Cinsault 2023
Price: R325
Grapes from a vineyard in Firgrove. 50% whole-bunch fermentation, maturation lasting nine months in older 500-litre barrels. Crazy compelling aromatics of cherry, plum, pomegranate, rose, fynbos and spearmint. The palate has generous fruit, lemon-like acidity and fine that tannins that are fine yet nevertheless grippy. Alc: 12.8%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Lötter Cinsault 2023
Price: R535
Grapes from a Franchhoek vineyard planted in 1932. 100% destemmed, maturation lasting in 10 months in 500-litre barrels. Enchanting aromatics of violet, fresh herbs, black cherry, orange and earth while the palate is rich and round with tangy acidity and mouth-coating, lightly spicy tannins. Alc: 13.5%.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

Breton Cabernet Franc 2023
Price: R400
75% of grapes from Lynedoch (destemmed) and 25% from Polkadraai Hills (whole-bunch fermented). Matured for 10 months, 55% in barrel and 45% in concrete. Top notes of fresh herbs and fynbos before red and black berries as well as earth. Light bodied with plenty of refreshment factor – pure fruit, lip-smacking acidity and an uncompromisingly dry finish.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

High Hopes 2023
Price: R325
W.O. Swartland. 92% Syrah and 8% Grenache Noir (no Cinsault as was the case in previous vintages) – Syrah 100% whole-bunch fermented and aged in 500-litre barrel, Grenache destemmed, barrique. Red berries, flowers, herbs, cured meat and white pepper on the nose. The palate is medium bodied with fresh acidity and tannins that are immaculately managed in their fineness. Succulent fruit on entry and yet the wine pulls tight, the finish dry, with a brine-like quality.

CE’s rating: 96/100.

Graft Syrah 2023
Price: R670
Grapes from Polkadraai Hills. 100% whole-bunch fermented. 83% fermented and matured for 10 months in concrete and 17% in older 500-litre barrels. Red berry, rose, dried herbs, black pepper and other spice on the nose while the palate shows good fruit definition, lively acidity and fine tannins. Poised and precise rather than powerful. Alc: 13.2%.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

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