Lukas and Roxanne van Loggerenberg’s latest releases are confident, settled and precise. 2023 was an excellent vintage for them, and the Kameraderie and Trust Your Gut are both brilliant examples of the clarity and energy that the granite soils of the Swartland and Stellenbosch offer Chenin Blanc. The Kameraderie is ‘extraordinarily balanced and seamless’, according to Christian Eedes, and the Trust Your Gut shows ‘lovely fruit definition, full of pep, the finish extremely long and pithy’.
The van Loggerenberg Cinsaults continue to impress. Their Geronimo 2023 shines with ‘crazy compelling aromatics’, whilst the Lötter 2023 is pure class – hailing from SA’s second-oldest registered red wine vineyard, planted in Franschhoek in 1932. It’s a serious, cellar-worthy wine with detailed tannins.
This is the third release of the High Hopes – a blend of 92% Syrah and the rest Grenache. The wine is produced from Swartland schist soils, versus the Graft Syrah, which grows on Polkadraai granite soils. Both are exciting, transparent expressions of their terroir. The High Hopes impresses with ‘tannins that are immaculately managed in their fineness’, says Christian, and the Graft is noted for its poise and precision. SA Syrah is on fire!
The Breton Cabernet Franc 2023 is at the heart of this release. It’s the wine that’s most dear to Lukas and certainly the finest in its style in South Africa. Destined to mature beautifully for a decade or more, the 2023 offers ‘pure fruit, lip-smacking acidity and an uncompromisingly dry finish’, writes Christian.
These small-batch wines showcase the skill of a very talented winemaker.
Tasting Notes:
Van Loggerenberg Wines, Kameraderie Chenin Blanc 2023
‘Grapes from two Paardeberg vineyards, one planted in 1966 and the other in 1980, the older vineyard fermented and matured for 10 months in concrete tank, the younger in 500-litre barrels. Peach, citrus, fennel and some flinty reduction. The palate is super-dense with punchy acidity and a deeply savoury finish. All elements of the wine very tightly gathered, the result being something extraordinarily balanced and seamless. Alc: 12.6%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 98/100
Van Loggerenberg Wines, Trust your Gut Chenin Blanc 2023
‘65% Paardeberg, 35% Polkadraai Hills. Matured for 10 months in older 500-litre barrels. Pear, peach, citrus, fynbos and a little struck-match reduction. Lean and taut on the palate – lovely fruit definition, full of pep, the finish extremely long and pithy.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 96/100
Van Loggerenberg Wines, Geronimo Cinsaut 2023
‘Grapes from a vineyard in Firgrove. 50% whole-bunch fermentation, maturation lasting nine months in older 500-litre barrels. Crazy compelling aromatics of cherry, plum, pomegranate, rose, fynbos and spearmint. The palate has generous fruit, lemon-like acidity and fine that tannins that are fine yet nevertheless grippy. Alc: 12.8%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 94/100
Van Loggerenberg Wines, Lötter Cinsaut 2023
‘Grapes from a Franchhoek vineyard planted in 1932. 100% destemmed, maturation lasting in 10 months in 500-litre barrels. Enchanting aromatics of violet, fresh herbs, black cherry, orange and earth while the palate is rich and round with tangy acidity and mouth-coating, lightly spicy tannins. Alc: 13.5%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 95/100
Van Loggerenberg Wines, High Hopes Syrah Blend 2023
‘W.O. Swartland. 92% Syrah and 8% Grenache Noir (no Cinsault as was the case in previous vintages) – Syrah 100% whole-bunch fermented and aged in 500-litre barrel, Grenache destemmed, barrique. Red berries, flowers, herbs, cured meat and white pepper on the nose. The palate is medium bodied with fresh acidity and tannins that are immaculately managed in their fineness. Succulent fruit on entry and yet the wine pulls tight, the finish dry, with a brine-like quality.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 96/100
Van Loggerenberg Wines, Graft Syrah 2023
‘Grapes from Polkadraai Hills. 100% whole-bunch fermented. 83% fermented and matured for 10 months in concrete and 17% in older 500-litre barrels. Red berry, rose, dried herbs, black pepper and other spice on the nose while the palate shows good fruit definition, lively acidity and fine tannins. Poised and precise rather than powerful. Alc: 13.2%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 95/100
Van Loggerenberg Wines, Breton Cabernet Franc 2023
‘75% of grapes from Lynedoch (destemmed) and 25% from Polkadraai Hills (whole-bunch fermented). Matured for 10 months, 55% in barrel and 45% in concrete. Top notes of fresh herbs and fynbos before red and black berries as well as earth. Light bodied with plenty of refreshment factor – pure fruit, lip-smacking acidity and an uncompromisingly dry finish.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 94/100
