Here’s the full tasting note for...

Cecilia, Old Vine Cinsault, Piekenierskloof, 2025

A beautifully, pure, unforced Cinsault, distinctly lighter than the Eight Gates release. Fermented in large, old, 500 litre barrels with natural yeasts it is pretty and perfumed with floral strawberry notes on the nose that follow straight through on to the gentle but concentrated palate. Sappy, refreshing and very long. An excellent red for long summer evenings, especially served ever so slightly chilled. Now-2030

"Supple and sappy with lovely red cherry and strawberry fruit. There’s a real focus to this wine, with some silkiness and sweetness to the fruit, with a touch of redcurrant, but also showing a bit of tannic crunch and good acidity. This is a beautiful expression of Cinsault, so nuanced and floral. 93/100." Jamie Goode, wineanorak.com, July 4th 2026

"Pale ruby. Gentle but really attractive aromas – hibiscus, roses, strawberries and pomegranate. Subtle precision. Super-bright and light palate. Just a very delicate brush of fine-sand-like tannins, with a surge of fruit and flower petals on the mid palate, filling things out and adding a counterpoint to the freshness. Subtle but quite persistent, mouth-watering finish. So attractive and charming. 16.5/20, 2026-2028." Oliver Coleman, jancisrobinson.com, 8th July 2026

The wines of Cerina van Niekerk are no stranger to SVS as for several years she was the winemaker at Piekenierskloof. Cerina now has her own project which ties together two of her passions: wine and music. Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians and the sales of these wines supports the Cecilia Foundation which provides music education and therapy to underprivileged children and adults in communities and schools across the Cape. It’s a very good cause underpinned by excellent winemaking.

Cerina sources the wines from farms and parcels across the Cape matching grape and location to produce the gentle, unforced, dare we say andante, style she prefers. Cerina has raided her old contacts in Piekenierskloof for the grapes for her crystalline Cinsault and then headed to the Ceres Plateau where she is one of a small number of winemakers to spot the potential for excellent Pinot Noir.