Milner Keeps Stacking Scores: Stellenbosch Cinsault 2023 Now In
Alex Milner’s hot streak rolls on. Fresh off Tamlyn Currin’s feature on Natte Valleij, the Stellenbosch Cinsault 2023 lands 17.5/20 on JancisRobinson.com and 95 points from Greg Sherwood MW and Tim Atkin MW—joining a string of top-rated single-vineyard Cinsaults (and that luminous Axle Chenin).
Think damask rose, sandalwood, white pepper, roasted-tomato savour and wild-strawberry zip over fine-boned tannin. Spontaneous ferment, 10% whole bunch, 18 months in foudre. Just 2,000 bottles.
£26.99 at Museum Wines. Old-vine character; modern precision.
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Natte Valleij
Natte Valleij
Stellenbosch Cinsault 2023
100% Cinsault, Stellenbosch
£26.99
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95 Points – Greg Sherwood MW | 17.5 Points – Jancis Robinson MW | 95 Points – Tim Atkin MW
“Alex Milner tell me that, this is ‘a wonderful vineyard. Chris [Alheit] called me and said, ‘don’t you want this vineyard?’. And we now take it entirely. It’s on the Polkadraai Hills. And old guy planted the vineyard in 1972 to make port, but there was never enough sugar in the grapes.’ Spontaneous fermentation for 12 days, left on stalks post-fermentation for structure and depth, 10% whole bunch. Goes into foudre for ageing for 18 months. TA 5.7 g/l, RS 2.1 g/l, pH 3.68, VA 0.78. 2,000 bottles.
The perfume on this is unbelievable: damask roses, sandalwood. A wonderful matrix of structure in depth and breadth and length. So peppery. Deep roasted-tomato, roasted capsicum and then tomato vine on the finish. A real tapestry. Tannins running through it like bird-fine bones. Wild-strawberry sherbet. Such a long, long, white-pepper finish. A wine like this makes me hanker for steak tartare!” – Tamlyn Currin.
