Dear *|FNAME|*,

Just a few years back, Lukas van Loggerenberg's star was rising. It now shines brightly. His wines are made with real intention. Recently settling into his own cellar space has allowed for nuanced improvements to his winemaking, and this – combined with an excellent vintage – has resulted in a stellar set of wines.

This vintage sees the release of two exciting new wines. The Lötter Cinsaut 2021 is from a vineyard planted in Franschhoek in 1932. The wine is beautiful, with aromatic depth and fine tannins that only old vines can bring. Joining this release is a blend of 86% Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault. The High Hopes 2021 is all about fruit purity, with Syrah very much at the fore. It's a well-balanced wine that offers earlier drinking.

These are small batch wines that showcase the skillset of a very talented winemaker.

Trust your Gut Chenin Blanc 2021's finessed, coiled and precise power shows the class of the vintage and needs a year in the cellar to show off its full potential. Limited this vintage.

The Kameraderie Chenin Blanc 2021, now from a Paardeberg vineyard, is 'a beautifully poised wine if still very tightly wound', says Christian Eedes. Like its sibling above, this is one for the cellar.

The Geronimo Cinsaut 2021 has more clarity and definition in this vintage. It 'combines delicacy and energy to good effect', according to Christian, and has lots of perfume and savoury complexity.

One of the standout wines of the release, the Breton Cabernet Franc 2021 is all about balanced perfume, freshness, and fruit purity. The light-footed palate has a dry, defined structure and great length. This is one SA's premier expressions of Cabernet Franc.

Impressive as always, the Graft Syrah 2021, sadly down in production, has been fully allocated. 'A statuesque wine – muscular but not bulky', writes Christian.

Reply to this email or visit our website to place your order online.

Vinous regards,

Tasting notes

Van Loggerenberg Wines, Trust Your Gut Chenin Blanc 2021

'60% of grapes sourced from Paardeberg and 40% Polkadraai Hills. Struck-match reduction before pear, peach, dried herbs and some earthiness – all rather subtle. The palate possesses impressive structure – concentrated fruit, punchy acidity and just a little phenolic grip to the finish. Good depth of flavour and altogether rather forceful despite an alcohol of just 13%.' – 94/100, Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za

Van Loggerenberg Wines, Kameraderie Chenin Blanc 2021

'The return of the Kamaraderie label but grapes now from a Paardeberg vineyard rather than Paarl. Here the nose shows reduction that is more flinty before citrus, peach and thatch while the palate has great clarity of fruit, snappy acidity and a saline finish. It's a beautifully poised wine if still very tightly wound. As with its counterpart above, there's a sense that this needs at least another six months to start showing at their best.' – 95/100, Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za

Van Loggerenberg Wines, Geronimo Cinsaut 2021

'87% from Faure grapes, 13% from Franschhoek (see below), the first component undergoing 40% whole-bunch fermentation. This vintage also saw two weeks longer on the skins post fermentation with a view to greater structure. Top notes of potpourri, rose and fresh herbs on the nose before red currant, wild strawberry and spice. The palate is well delineated with pure fruit, vibrant acidity and fine tannins, the finish super-dry. Combines delicacy and energy to good effect.' – 94/100, Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za

Van Loggerenberg Wines, Lötter Cinsaut 2021

'From a Franscchoek vineyard planted in 1932, the second-oldest red grape vineyard in the country. Matured in concrete eggs. Plums, cherries, hints of earth and modeling clay (plasticene). The palate shows good fruit density – it has a roundness about it without being weighty – while the acidity is bright and the tannins very fine. Do old vines necessarily lead to profundity, though?' – 93/100, Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za

Van Loggerenberg Wines, Breton Cabernet Franc 2021

'Grapes from two Stellenbosch growers in and around the Polkadraai Hills area, 35% undergoing whole-bunch fermentation. Archetypal aromatics of red and black berries, pencil shavings, rose violets and some herbaceousness – very expressive and attractive. The palate has good fruit density (more so than usual although it's hardly what you would call “plush”) and the acidity is well integrated, the tannins fine-grained. Poise, verve and length.' – 95/100, Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za

Van Loggerenberg Wines, High Hopes 2021

'86% Syrah, 10% Grenache and 4% Cinsaut, grapes from the Swartland – the Syrah on prime vineyards planted on schist, 30% undergoing whole-bunch fermentation. Red and black berries, olive, dried herbs and white pepper on the nose while the palate is medium bodied with fresh acidity and crunchy tannins. Showing purity of fruit and good length, this has a ready drinkability about it.' – 93/100, Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za

Van Loggerenberg Wines, The Graft Syrah 2021

'Truly beautiful aromatics including St Joseph's lilies, red and black berries, fynbos, earth, pepper and clove while the palate shows great clarity of fruit, punchy acidity and fine tannins. A statuesque wine – muscular but not bulky. Great flavour intensity, harmonious and super-long on the finish.' – 98/100, Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za

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