Reviews
JancisRobinson.com 17.5/20
Alex Milner’s Cinsaults are a riddle. So much intensity. Layers upon prismatic layers. Sour cherry, wild fruit, medlar and wet terracotta and blood orange. The tannins creep up invisibly, until suddenly you realise they’re entwining like wild vines through the fruit. And then you find that every corner of your mouth is full, pinging, alive with this beautiful wine. And yet, it’s just 11.5% alcohol. How a wine so slight, so gauzy, can have so much substance and impact and presence is the paradox. A fine paradox. A paradox I am very happy to have in the glass in my hand. [Tamlyn Currin, 30/06/2023]
Greg Sherwood 96
A translucent red cherry ruby in colour, the aromatics on this wine are astonishingly pretty sharing the tantalisingly perfumed opulence and lift that you would find on a young classical Grand Cru Burgundy tasted from barrel. The fragrant notes of violets, cherry blossom and pressed rose petals slowly melt into waves of red cherry, cranberry and wild strawberry fruits with that ever present granitic mineral vein lending further complexity. The texture in the mouth is enchanting, resembling liquid silk and the intense red berry fruits are as pure as driven snow. This is an impressive single vineyard wine built around purity and precision, finesse and freshness, and in 2021, Alex Milner has created a proverbial liquid masterpiece. Drink this on release and over the next 10 to 12+ years. [Greg Sherwood, 22/05/2023]
Tim Atkin 95
Alex Milner’s stellar release in 2021 comes from a parcel on decomposed granite in the Bottelary Hills, established back in 1972. Boasting the highest acidity of any of his Cinsault bottlings, it’s delicate, perfumed and understated, with 10% whole bunch fermentation and ageing in concrete eggs. Crunchy and stony, with lacy tannins and succulent wild strawberry fruit. 2022-27 [Tim Atkin, 31/03/2022]
Producer Profile
Natte Valleij, a historic family farm in Stellenbosch run by winemaker Alex Milner, has received critical acclaim for his site specific Cinsault from various pockets of extraordinary old vine parcels across the Cape. Tamlyn Currin writes: “It was the first time I’d tasted Cinsault. It was the first time I actually understood the variety. It was a lightning strike.” Together with his stellar Axle Chenin Blanc from Darling. Tamlyn writes: “Alex Milner pushes the edges of possibility and beauty. He always takes my breath away. Surely this cannot be under £30?!” The stage has been set, heroing the adopted heritage grapes of South Africa, finally allowing them freedom of expression. As well as our very own, native Pinotage – Alex and his Natte Valleij wines represent the spirit of the Cape and we’d strongly advise you visit him and his wines during Cape Wine.