JancisRobinson.com 17.5
Full bottle 1,344 g. Certified Heritage Vineyard planted in 1978. Dry-farmed, bush-vine vineyard. Spontaneous fermentation in concrete tank, basket-pressed, left in large oak casks for 11 months. Every year, I lift this glass to my nose, breathe deeply, taste it, breathe deeply, and sigh with relief. My Darling, darling Cinsault. It has yet to disappoint me. It takes me back to African sunrises – sitting on kopjes in the Matobo Hills, watching blood-red light spill across and down the splits of bald granite rocks, the scent of resurrection bush in my nose, and the smell of rooibos tea. It has that fragile transparency of a paper-thin sliver of ruby – it feels as if it might crack in your mouth and maybe disappear. It really does taste of ancient rocks (and if you think I’m crazy, you need to watch the sun rise from the edge of the Matobo Hills). You can taste the rocks in the air. You can taste the sun rise. It’s not a wine that seeks to charm or please. It’s a wine that is. Meet it at its place. (TC) 12.5% [Tamlyn Currin, 10/10/2024]
Anticipated maturity: 2024-2031
Tim Atkin 95
It’s not always the case, but in 2023 this was the more concentrated of the two Old Vine Project Cinsaults at Natte Valleij. Sourced from a bush vines parcel in Darling that was established in 1978, it’s savoury, intense and full of life, with some clove and pepper spice from partial whole bunch fermentation, goji berry and raspberry fruit and refined filigree tannins. 2025-30 [Tim Atkin, 02/09/2024]
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2030
Greg Sherwood 96+
This is an incredibly intense and serious expression from Darling with almost Burgundian hints of wild strawberries, pink musk, rose petals, salty black currant and a broody red cherry pastille undertone. Fabulous focus and power, but also seamless and soft, with silky fine tannins, beautifully integrated mouthwatering tangy acids and a long, creamy, candied red apple finish. A majestically classy old vine example of Darling Cinsault to enjoy now in its youth or over the next 8 to 10 years. [Greg Sherwood MW, 24/03/2024]
Decanter 98
Super-aromatic and enticing, like walking through a scented garden: violets, black roses and night lilies abound. Incense and smoke wreathe through intense black cherries and plums, then layer onto the palate, seeping into velvety tannins, and soaking in redcurrants, ripe raspberries and tomato essence. Finishing red-fruited and plucky, with tangy acidity that refreshes and urges you to go back and finish the bottle. This hails from a vineyard on a lonely hill, no other vines in sight. Planted around 1978 on Malmesbury formation rock with significantly decomposed granite, the wine feels as individual as its origins. [Malu Lambert, 23/08/2023]
