Description
This highly unusual white version of Cinsault hails from a dryland vineyard that was established in 1972. Showing lots of extract and the grip that often seems to come from granite soils, this is herbal and slightly reductive, with remarkable precision and length and lemon zest and aniseed flavours. 2021-25 93/100 Tim Atkin MW
This has been named white Rhone in many blind line ups with a nose oozing of apricot, almond and some lanoline. The palate is rich yet elegant and filled with white peach and glossy pear drop flavours. Food pairing: This white Cinsault will accompany an array of vegetarian dishes and Norwegian salmon drenched in a brown butter sauce or lovely crispy oven grilled petit poissons in a lemon butter reduction. Tertius Boshoff.
General Notes
After reaching tremendous international and local success with Stellenrust, owners Tertius Boshoff and Kobie van der Westhuizen decided to take things back to their roots to create wines without boundaries. The old Bottelary cellar was reinstated and the birthplace of the first artisan wines created by a passion for old vineyards and special sites. The ArtiSons winery allows us to free our spirits and make wines as natural as possible and as true to nature as possible.
In the vineyards
Inspired by the harvest apprentices of 2018 guided under the cheerful smile of young gun Herman du Preez, this wine is made from grapes harvested from a dryland vineyard planted in 1964 in the Bottelary hills.
Vinification
Bunch selection of white mutations and some lighter pink bunches are handpicked and pressed whole in a traditional basket press. A close eye is kept on the juice, and grapes are gently pressed, yielding only the purest juice before discolouration kicks in. The juice is fermented in small 225-litre French oak barrels with wild yeast and kept on the lees in the barrel for 9 months. It is bottled unfined and only with a soft filtration.
Winemaker: Herman Du Preez
ANALYSIS
Alc: 12.8%
RS 3.6 g/L
pH: 3.17
TA 6.8 g/L
