Lubanzi - Cinsault

                    


Name: Lubanzi
Varietal: Cinsault
Region: Swartland
Country: South Africa
Year: 2023
Price: $15.95

Vintage Cellar Review: Dubbed 'The Pinot Noir of the Swartland', it is made from 36 year old dry farmed grapes grown in the south of Swartland. Cinsault, once relegated to the sidelines as the parent of Pinotage, has launched a comeback as the favorite son of South Africa's winelands. Youthful red with aromas of pink peppercorns, strawberries and watermelon. Lovely purity of fruit here. Medium-bodied, crunchy and delicious. Sustainable. - 92

Flavors/Aromas: (Pg. 100) Cinsault is a less-common wine with little info in the book, but it is a low tannin, floral/fruity red with hints of raspberry, red currant, tart cherry, violet, and black tea.

My Review: So I will be honest - I genuinely thought this was a Pinot Noir until shortly before writing this. I saw that the review said "Pinot Noir" and my brain sort of autocompleted from there. However, until I discovered the truth, I thought that this was the best Pinot Noir I have ever had! Starting with raspberry on the first sniff, diving into it unveiled the famous tart cherry flavor I have come to adore, further helped by low tannins and a moderately strong body to hold it all together. The perceived complexity only grew from there, with a violet undercurrent and a mushroomy, earthy tinge appearing on the palate. Thank goodness I made the mistake I did, or else I would have never gotten to spend extended time with this lovely beverage.

Food Pairing: I had this wine alongside a plate of spaghetti with Arrabbiata sauce. Given that the sauce was spicy, it was not a surprise that it brought out a bit more of a lingering kick to the wine that had not been present before. The cherry flavor was also darkened somewhat, and a new "sweet earthiness" tint appeared near the throat.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Santa Julia Tardío - Torrontés

Image
                                     Name:  Santa Julia Tard í o Varietal:  Torrontés (Late Harvest) Region:  Mendoza Country:  Argentina Year:  2022 Price:  $16.95 Vintage Cellar Review:  This late harvest Torrontés is characterized by fresh aromas of flowers and pink grapefruit, a sumptuous texture on the palate and an excellent balance between sweetness and acidity, featuring pineapple, nectarine and apricot fruit. With a very gentle finish, this delightful wine is the first one of its kind in Argentina. Flavors/Aromas:  (Pg. 177) While technically including three separate varietals, this Argentinian grape possesses a good sweet-dry balance, which goes perfectly with its notes of Meyer lemon, peach, rose petal, geranium, and citrus zest. My Review:  Full disclosure: this was consumed on a night where I had already been drinking, and I origi...
Read more

Columbia Crest - H3 Merlot

Image
                    Name:  Columbia Crest - H3 Merlot Varietal:  86% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon Region:  Horse Heaven Hills, Washington Country:  United States Year:  2019 Price:  $15.95 Vintage Cellar Review:  This medium-bodied Merlot delivers aromas of spice, plum and blackberry with the perfect balance of earth, cocoa and ripe black cherry notes on the palate. The complex flavors are followed by a smooth, velvety finish. - 90 Flavors/Aromas:  (Pg. 132) Merlot is obviously popular worldwide, but is quite notable in the Columbia Valley of Washington state, with its wines featuring sweet fruit flavors like black cherry and boysenberry; higher acidity and lighter bodies; and notes of chocolate cream, violet, and mint. My Review:  Given that this is my final regular blog for this class, I knew there was one major varietal I had yet to discuss. Merlot is something I have been anxious to try ...
Read more

Primaterra - Pinot Noir

Image
                        Name:  Primaterra Varietal:  Pinot Nero (Pinot Noir) Region:  Trevenezie Country:  Italy Year:  2019 Price:  $9.95 Vintage Cellar Review:  Distinctive aroma of red berries, blackberry, raspberry. Excellent versatility thanks to its good drinkability and refinement over time. Medium bodied, lively, elegant, and with good freshness. Flavors/Aromas:  (Pg. 150) This lighter bodied, soft-tannin red has become very popular with its spicy and fruity flavors, such as cherry, raspberry, clove, mushroom, and vanilla. My Review:  After the Pinot Noir/Cinsault snafu from a couple of weeks ago, I was really looking to get a bottle of the former to make up for my error, and I happened to come across a good one at a tasting that I bought on the spot. Now looking at the price listed above, you might be concerned, as with how famously difficult Pinot Noir is to get r...
Read more