Malanot Cinsault 2023

The Producer

Malanot Wines is the passion project of Marius Malan — one of South Africa’s select Cape Wine Masters, an Elsenburg graduate, and a winemaker who firmly believes the best thing you can do for a wine is get out of its way. Raised on Staart van Paardeberg, Marius grew up surrounded by the vines his father Niel farmed and the legacy his grandfather, the late Dan Malan, left as chairman of the Paardeberg Co-op — a man who played an instrumental role in developing the Paardeberg as a wine region.

After earning his National Diploma in Winemaking from Elsenburg, Marius cut his teeth at Uva Mira Vineyards before serving as Chief Winemaker and Viticulturist at Slaley. In 2009 he struck out on his own with Malanot — a name that marries “Malan” with “genot” (Afrikaans for pleasure). His philosophy is refreshingly simple: guide, don’t force. Wild yeast, older barrels, spontaneous fermentation, and minimal intervention are the cornerstones of every wine he makes. The results speak for themselves — his Cabernet Sauvignon 2019 and Triton Syrah 2019 both earned 4.5 stars in Platter’s Wine Guide with 5-star nominations.

Vintage & Terroir

The 2023 vintage saw Stellenbosch deliver beautifully balanced fruit, with warm days and cool ocean-influenced evenings allowing the Cinsault grapes to ripen slowly and retain their bright, natural acidity. Cinsault thrives in the well-drained soils and moderate climate of the Western Cape, producing a grape that is increasingly celebrated by South Africa’s leading natural winemakers for its elegance and drinkability.

In the Cellar

True to Marius’s hands-off approach, this Cinsault was fermented using indigenous wild yeast — the natural cultures from the vineyard itself — allowing the wine’s character to develop without commercial intervention. Gentle extraction preserved the delicate fruit and floral aromatics, while minimal fining and filtration kept the wine honest and expressive. As Marius puts it: “I stand for minimal interference with the natural process.” The result is a light-bodied red that captures the pure essence of the variety — vibrant, refreshing, and utterly unpretentious.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Light ruby with a translucent, inviting hue.
Nose: Fresh cherries, cranberries, and wild strawberries, layered with hints of rose petals, white pepper, and subtle herbaceous notes.
Palate: Juicy raspberry and pomegranate flavours are complemented by a silky texture, refreshing acidity, and a faint mineral undertone. Fine-grained tannins provide just enough structure without weighing you down.
Finish: A lasting impression of red fruit and savoury spice that keeps you reaching for another sip.

Food Pairing

This is the ultimate braai-day red — serve it ice cold alongside roasted chicken, flame-grilled veggies, or a simple charcuterie board. It’s equally brilliant with sushi, Thai salads, or a bowl of pasta tossed in olive oil and fresh herbs. Best enjoyed well chilled — pop it in the fridge for an hour before serving and let the bright fruit flavours really sing.

Technical Details

Our Guarantee

Every bottle of Malanot Cinsault is backed by our 100% Happiness Assured! Guarantee. If this wine doesn’t put a smile on your face, we’ll sort it out — no fuss, no fine print, just honest wine and honest service.