Craven, Cinsault, 2021
Why We Like It
Usually we try to write everything in these blurbs ourselves, but Craven themselves sum it up so succinctly; ‘Honest, pure wines from single sites’. Tasting their 2022 Chardonnay was a bit of an epiphany of us. Such precision and purity at an ABV of 11.5% was not something we had experienced before. On that basis, we ordered across the board.
It’s also very important that we say here, these are not your typical big, bold, oaked Stellenbosch wines. The name of the game here is expression of fruit and site. Winemaking is hands off; no cultured yeast, fining agents or enzymes get anywhere near Mick and Jeanine’s wines.
We implore you to give them a go, you’ll see a side to Stellenbosch you might not have experienced before.
What To Expect
Cinsault seems to be having a bit of a moment, especially in South Africa. The constantly overshadowed grape was actually the Cape’s most planted variety until 1993, but then fell out of favour to the big boys of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage.
Young winemakers like Craven are looking to these, now old, dry-farmed bush vines, to make deliciously perfumed light reds that may well scratch that itch we all have for a juicy chilled red on those languid summer days.
Cinsault / 12% / Devon Valley, Stellenbosch, South Africa / 75cl
Why We Like It
Usually we try to write everything in these blurbs ourselves, but Craven themselves sum it up so succinctly; ‘Honest, pure wines from single sites’. Tasting their 2022 Chardonnay was a bit of an epiphany of us. Such precision and purity at an ABV of 11.5% was not something we had experienced before. On that basis, we ordered across the board.
It’s also very important that we say here, these are not your typical big, bold, oaked Stellenbosch wines. The name of the game here is expression of fruit and site. Winemaking is hands off; no cultured yeast, fining agents or enzymes get anywhere near Mick and Jeanine’s wines.
We implore you to give them a go, you’ll see a side to Stellenbosch you might not have experienced before.
What To Expect
Cinsault seems to be having a bit of a moment, especially in South Africa. The constantly overshadowed grape was actually the Cape’s most planted variety until 1993, but then fell out of favour to the big boys of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage.
Young winemakers like Craven are looking to these, now old, dry-farmed bush vines, to make deliciously perfumed light reds that may well scratch that itch we all have for a juicy chilled red on those languid summer days.
Cinsault / 12% / Devon Valley, Stellenbosch, South Africa / 75cl
Why We Like It
Usually we try to write everything in these blurbs ourselves, but Craven themselves sum it up so succinctly; ‘Honest, pure wines from single sites’. Tasting their 2022 Chardonnay was a bit of an epiphany of us. Such precision and purity at an ABV of 11.5% was not something we had experienced before. On that basis, we ordered across the board.
It’s also very important that we say here, these are not your typical big, bold, oaked Stellenbosch wines. The name of the game here is expression of fruit and site. Winemaking is hands off; no cultured yeast, fining agents or enzymes get anywhere near Mick and Jeanine’s wines.
We implore you to give them a go, you’ll see a side to Stellenbosch you might not have experienced before.
What To Expect
Cinsault seems to be having a bit of a moment, especially in South Africa. The constantly overshadowed grape was actually the Cape’s most planted variety until 1993, but then fell out of favour to the big boys of Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinotage.
Young winemakers like Craven are looking to these, now old, dry-farmed bush vines, to make deliciously perfumed light reds that may well scratch that itch we all have for a juicy chilled red on those languid summer days.
Cinsault / 12% / Devon Valley, Stellenbosch, South Africa / 75cl
