A low-intervention red bursting with fruit and flavour.
Lukas and Roxanne Van Loggerenberg run a small but tight ship with their family-owned brand, Van Loggerenberg Wines. They burst onto the scene in 2016, and have quickly made a name for themselves with their low-intervention, site-specific wines, with fruit sourced mainly from Stellenbosch and the Swartland. Lukas was named 2018 Young Winemaker of the Year by Tim Atkin MW, and his star continues to rise as does the reputation of the wines.
Rawsonville youth
Lukas grew up among the vines in the Breedekloof Valley. “My family wasn’t wealthy, which I consider fortunate because it taught me the value of hard work,” confides Lukas. His wine journey began in 2005 as a harvest intern at Daschbosch. “A year later, I earned a scholarship to Elsenburg, thanks to the support of ‘Oom’ Willie van Zyl.”
A leap of faith
After graduating he worked at Rijks in Tulbagh before heading off to the USA’s East Coast. Here he says he was introduced to fine wines, which taught him that the joy of wine transcends price and status. After some more travels in France, the inspiration to go it alone was truly lit.
“The epiphany moment was a tasting at Domaine de la Chevalerie. Right then I decided I’d resign when I got back home. It was Geronimo time, time to take a leap of faith.”
Van Loggerenberg Wines Geronimo Cinsault 2023
Great juicy swathes of red and black fruit, like an impasto painting, layered, generous and tactile. The grapes come from Stellenbosch’s Firgrove ward. Hauntingly expressive, in part from the use of 50 percent wholebunch fermentation, which magnifies the vibrant potpourri, plums, cherries and blackcurrant aromatics. The wine saw nine months maturation in older oak, smoothing the tannins to satin, curling right to the precisely dry and neat finish. With its density of flavour yet refreshing styling this wine will work equally well on a cold winter’s night, or chilled down a little as we come into spring.
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