Waterkloof Seriously Cool Cinsault 2023
By Christian Eedes, 12 February 2025
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How much to expect from Cinsault? Some of South Africa’s top winemakers take it very seriously indeed – the Mullineuxs, for instance, making one from a Wellington vineyard planted in 1900 under the Leeu Passant label, while Pofadder from Sadie and both Geronimo and Lötter from Van Loggerenberg are other notable examples.
Nadia Langenegger of Waterkloof takes a more modest approach with her version under the Seriously Cool label, the result in the case of the 2023 vintage nevertheless entirely charming.
Grapes from Stellenbosch vineyards planted in 1964 and 1974. Wholebunch, partial carbonic maceration before maturation lasting 12 months in second- and third-fill 600-litre barrels.
An extravagantly perfumed nose with notes of red cherry, strawberry rose and herbs while the palate is lean and fresh with powdery tannins. Elegant, lively and not out of reach at R160 a bottle.
CE’s rating: 90/100.
Check out our South African wine ratings database.
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Wessel Strydom | 14 February 2025
I recently happened to notice the Viento Cinsault 2022 because of its intriguing label and the fact that I don’t know much about this cultivar. This wine is dedicated to the winemaker’s family, the last remaining Afrikaners in Patagonia. Enjoying my first sip I thought Wow! The wine is well structured with hints of strawberries and plumbs. I am able to enjoy this wine in summer, slightly chilled as well as during the colder months. At R119 from Getwine I immediately ordered two cases and I can recommend this wine .
Donald Griffiths | 13 February 2025
For great value for money Cinsau(l)t look no further than Alex Milner’s Natte Valleij label. The vineyard specific wines are delightful. The Coastal Cinsault is a good starting point if you want to experience this cultivar at similar price point.
Greg Sherwood | 13 February 2025
Correct! Many are quick to forget Alex Milner’s incredible Coastal, Stellenbosch Old Vine and Darling Old Vine Cinsaults… at incredibly “old school” prices. When talking value / quality Cinsault, Alex’s wines are almost impossible to beat.
Tom Prior | 14 February 2025
The OG cinsault project
Tom Prior | 13 February 2025
Sounds delicious and 90pts looks well weighted to ‘lean and fresh’ descriptors, relative to say the Geronimo’s ‘compelling’ and ‘generous’ notes and 94pts. I think they’d show quite apart in a blind tasting.
Can’t recall first Waterkloof Cinsault vintage, but the 2014 was the first to feature 100% carbonic and it’s been remarkably consistent on style and affordability. They can claim some real provenance.
Kwispedoor | 13 February 2025
I can’t recall the first vintage, Tom, but I still have a bottle of the 2012 in my cellar, which I recall as very tannic when young. So I just put it away – it should be an interesting one when I open it one day.
Jamie Johnson | 12 February 2025
Rall Cinsault 2023 @ R295 (CE & TA both rated 95pts) and Savage Follow The Line 2023 @ R380 (CE & TA both rated 96pts) a couple more great Cinsault examples to add to the list.
Wessel Strydom | 14 February 2025
Hi Josh, to which wine do you refer?
James Bosenberg | 12 February 2025
Totally delicious and available from ultra for R99
Kwispedoor | 12 February 2025
I’m curious as to what makes this wine more “modest”, Christian? It’s not exactly a tank-fermented wine from young vineyards, is it? Comparing it with the top examples of Cinsau(l)t from SA, I can’t really see anything significant in the vineyard or winemaking approach that would confine this to more modesty. Not tasting this blind (or comparatively), perhaps it’s rather things like price, image and scarcity that influenced you in this regard?
Christian Eedes | 12 February 2025
Hi Kwispedoor, It is in large part price, image and scarcity (or lack thereof) that do influence me. Most recent vintage of Leeu Passant – R780 a bottle, Pofadder – R550, Geronimo – R325, Lötter – R535. “Seriously Cool” is not single site, the carbonic maceration is plain to see stylistically, and total production is 23 100 bottles… I think it’s delicious (if not profound) and I can actually afford to drink it.
Jos | 12 February 2025
Ok, but those got 95,92,94 and 95 respectively. Are you suggesting that price, image and scarcity helps to boost the score you ultimately give?
Christian Eedes | 12 February 2025
Hi Jos, Extrinsics should never be the sole determinant of scores but wines obviously exist in some sort of context. What I think does apply is that there are very few great examples of Cinsault around compared to Syrah for instance, and that’s because it’s fundamentally a more lowly variety – Waterkloof should be applauded for not overreaching themselves in making Seriously Cool, a wine that’s entirely smashable if not life-changing.