McFarlane Wines, Capitoline Wolf Red 2023
Alexandra McFarlane, winemaker and proprietor of McFarlane Wines, is incredibly passionate about South African ‘heritage’ varietals (working exclusively with Chenin Blanc, Pinotage, Cinsault and Semillon) and the role that they have played in sculpting the evolution of the SA wine industry.
She handles the grapes as gently as possible in the winery in order to produce wines that are elegant, honest and undeniably moreish. She picks with freshness in mind, resulting in wines that are comparatively low abv, but maintains complexity through phenolic ripeness and extended lees contact.
The grapes were sourced from multiple areas – Breedekloof, Darling, and Stellenbosch. Hand picking and sorting preceded whole bunch crushing; using the traditional foot stomping method. Gentle extraction, using punch downs, was utilised during fermentation. After fermentation, the wine was pressed and racked to big, old, French barrels for 9 months.
There are oodles of bright red fruit on the nose followed by some spice coming from the whole bunch fermentation. The palate displays notes of raspberry and pink Sparkles sweets complimented by bright zippy acidity and a lingering fruity finish.
£21.15
Western Cape
Cinsault
LightFull Bodied
Description
VARIETAL
92% Cinsault / 8% Grenache
TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
Alc: 12% | pH: 3.75 | TA: 5.7g/l | FSO2: 37ppm | TSO2: 96ppm | RS: 1.4g/l
ORIGIN
Western Cape
HARVEST & VINEYARD
We use three different Cinsault sites, Breedekloof, Darling and Stellenbosch. The grapes are harvested by hand and are chilled overnight before processing. Each site brings something different to the wine in terms of character. The grapes are sorted by hand before going into fermentors, whole bunch, where they are foot stomped.
WINEMAKING
The fermentation took around 10 days to be completed before being pressed off. The wine was racked to big old french oak puncheons after pressing. All three batches went through full malolactic fermentation and spent 9 months in barrel. The batches were blended together with a small amount of Grenache before a light filtration, followed by bottling.
TASTING NOTES
There are oodles of bright red fruit on the nose followed by some spice coming from the whole bunch fermentation. The palate displays notes of raspberry and pink Sparkles sweets complimented by bright zippy acidity and a lingering fruity finish. This wine would pair well with a sourdough margherita pizza or sweet and sticky pork ribs.
Additional information
| Alcohol vol | 12% |
|---|---|
| Grape | Cinsault |
| Origin | Western Cape |
| Vintage | 2023 |
| Wine Farm |
This wine will pair beautifully with a guanciale carbonara or even a lightly toasted hot cross bun, lashings of butter and a sliver of sharp cheddar.
1 review for McFarlane Wines, Capitoline Wolf Red 2023
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92 points | Tim Atkin MW Special South Africa Report 2024
“Cracking value from Alex McFarlane’s one-woman project, this is a nicely understated cuvée of Cinsault and 14% Grenache from Bot River, Breedekloof, Darling and Stellenbosch. Floral, ethereal and enticing, it has a nose of Turkish Delight and rose petal and a palate of sappy raspberry and rooibos tea framed by gentle tannins. 2024-27.”
Tim Atkin MW Special South Africa Report 2024 –