2019 GERONIMO, Lukas Van Loggerenberg. Stellenbosch, S Africa

A blend of two vineyards in Stellenbosch, one in the Firgrove area planted in 1978 and one in Bottelary planted in 1989.

100% Cinsault, fermented as whole bunches and matured for 9 months in (previously used) French oak barrels.

The words of Richard Kelley MW, the UK agent:
“Originating from Rawsonville (a town famed more for its distilling of brandy than the quality of its wine), Lukas first job was at Rijk’s in Tulbagh, after he graduated from Elsenburg college. Then, after spending two seasons on the Finger Lakes on the eastern side of the USA, he returned home to work at the relatively obscure Druk My Niet wine estate in Paarl. It was in late 2015 during a visit to France, that he made the decision to switch from being a salary-earner and into the terrifying if inevitable world of making his own wine.”

The delicacy of all good Cinsault, but with drive and intensity beneath. Very approachable now, but will be at its best around 2025.

“Transparent cherry red with, as with all of Lukas van L’s wines, however young, a colourless rim. Some evolved beetroot notes on the nose. Sweet palate entry – a real charmer, though I’m not sure there is much point in ageing this morello-cherry-flavoured, well-judged wine for that much longer. Great delicacy and integrity. Quite long with an appetisingly neat finish. And so precise. If it were a singer, it would have perfect pitch. This has come on in leaps and bounds since both Julia and I first tasted it in 2017. Still with a certain stoniness on the end. What’s not to like? Nothing exaggerated.” Jancis Robinson talking about the 2016.