2018 Leeu Passant Cinsault Lotter Franschoek Mullineux

The 2018 Old Vines Lötter Cinsault has a gorgeous bouquet of lifted red cherries, crushed strawberry and a touch of shoe leather, all very well defined and focused. The palate is well balanced with a lightly spiced entry, a fine bead of acidity and a caressing texture. Chinese five-spice and notes of sage appear toward the complex finish. This is an excellent Cinsault from Andrea and Chris Mullineux.

Tasted blind. Relatively dark in colour. Good depth, an interesting combination of fruit and herbs. Medium-bodied, juicy and fruity, quite generous and intense, a concentrated style. Little touch of well-integrated oak works well. The alcohol is a little raised, but this is otherwise very good.

A polished red, medium-bodied and balanced, with light, creamy tannins enmeshed with flavors of strawberry preserves, mulled plum, dried sage and subtle, smoke-laced charcoal. Drink now through 2024.

92P+: Made from vines originally planted in 1932, the dry-farmed 2018 Leeu Passant Old Vines Lotter Cinsault displays a classic ruby core and aromas of dark cherry, plum skin, dusty black raspberry and hints of wild brush and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is spicy with dusty red fruit and reminds me of a young Châteauneuf-du-Pape, with subtle baking spices, rocky mineral tension and lifted structure with firm tannins across the mid-palate. Ending with a tightly wound finish, this should easily last until its 10th birthday. This is an absolutely delightful, age-worthy and food-friendly Cinsault. Bravo!