McFarlane Wines, Saturday’s Child 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.

Grapes are sourced from two cool climate areas, Durbanville and Stanford, and hand picked and rigorously hand sorted. 85% of bunches were destemmed before adding back the 15% as whole bunches – everything was foot stomped in open top fermenters where they underwent fermentation. 3 punch downs a day during fermentation were utilised for colour and tannin extraction. After fermenting dry, the wine was pressed and racked to big old French barrels for maturation.

Dark bramble fruit on the nose with brooding spices. The tannins are firm and are carried by dark, inky fruit and fresh acidity. This wine has incredible intensity and perfume on the nose. The wine is refined and focused showing the characteristics of the parent varieties, Cinsault and Pinot Noir. It would show best with some bottle age and after decanting.