2023 Ratelfontein Vineyard Cinsault, FRAM

Tasting notes

The recent Jeroboams wine tasting was a cracker. I have followed this elite London wine merchant for decades, and I think today’s portfolio represents a new peak of wine sleuthing talent! Among a host of new finds, I came across a duo fro m Fram that amazed me with their individuality and terrific value for money. I know very little Grenache Gris is planted in South Africa, so I was excited to taste my headline wine. I love the label, the branding and the image this wine p rojects. While I was reeling from this discovery, another Fram wine hit the bullseye. 2023 Fram Cinsault was built along the same lines as the energetic GG, and yet, this time, it was as advertised: a red wine, with a bitter, raspy, pomegra nate and sour cherry aura. I urge you to seek out these modernist creations – they are exciting, refreshing and unlike anything I have tasted. -Matthew Jukes