Old Vines Cinsault
WERFDANS 2017
R425 per bottle
Naudé Wines Werfdans Cinsault 2017 is an exceptional Old Vine Cinsault from Darling in the Western Cape, South Africa, made from vines planted in 1968. This elegant and expressive South African red wine captures the character of its remarkable old vineyard, offering fragrant aromas of wild strawberry, red berries, sour cherry, rose petals and Turkish delight, underpinned by crushed-stone minerality, fine tannins and vibrant natural acidity.
Made with minimal intervention and only a small addition of sulphites, Werfdans 2017 demonstrates how refined, complex and age-worthy Cinsault can be. Awarded 97 points by Master of Wine Greg Sherwood, 17/20 by Jancis Robinson and 93 points by Neal Martin, it is recognised as one of Naudé Wines’ outstanding expressions of Old Vine Cinsault, with critics suggesting exceptional ageing potential of 20 years or more. A compelling choice for collectors and wine lovers searching for premium South African wine, Old Vine Cinsault, Darling wine, minimal-intervention wine and elegant, age-worthy red wines.
COMPOSITION
100% Cinsault
SOIL
Decomposed sandstone, sand
ORIGIN
Western Cape (Darling)
ANALYSIS
Alc 12.5% | RS 1.6g/L | TA 5.2 g/L | pH 3.51 g/L
ACCOLADES
97 | Greg Sherwood MW (June 2023)
17 | Jancis Robinson.com (June 2023)
4.5* | Platter's Wine Guide 2023
93 | Neal Martin (August 2023)
TECHNICAL SHEET
WERFDANS CINSAULT 2017 — Frequently Asked Questions
——————————————————————————
1. What is Naudé Werfdans Cinsault 2017?
——————————————————————————
Werfdans 2017 is a premium South African red wine from Naudé Wines — 100% old vine Cinsault from a single farm just outside Darling, made from vines planted in 1968. Released six years after the vintage to allow the wine time to develop, it's a serious, age-worthy expression of Cinsault that has drawn some of Naudé's strongest critical acclaim: 97 points from Master of Wine Greg Sherwood, 17 points from JancisRobinson.com, 93 points from Neal Martin, and 4.5 stars in Platter's Wine Guide 2023.
——————————————————————————
2. What does Naudé Werfdans Cinsault 2017 taste like?
——————————————————————————
The wine is fragrant and elegant, showing wild strawberry, red berries, sour cherry and rose petals on the nose, layered with crushed-granite minerality and the classic Cape Cinsault note of Turkish delight. It's tighter and more compact than earlier Werfdans vintages, with a dense, concentrated palate delivered through effortless elegance. Bright natural acidity frames the fruit, finishing with fine-grained, mineral, drying tannins.
——————————————————————————
3. Where do the grapes for Werfdans 2017 come from?
——————————————————————————
The fruit comes from a single old vine Cinsault vineyard just outside Darling on the Western Cape's West Coast, planted in 1968 on decomposed sandstone and sandy soils. The vines were previously sold to co-operatives for bulk wine before Naudé Wines began using this exceptional, well-tended block for its own single-vineyard releases. The key to the wine's quality lies in picking date — regular visits to the vineyard and tasting the grapes to judge ripeness by flavour rather than by laboratory numbers alone.
——————————————————————————
4. Is Naudé Werfdans Cinsault 2017 dry, and can it age?
——————————————————————————
Yes, it's dry, with 1.6 g/L residual sugar, 5.2 g/L acidity and a pH of 3.51. Its structure — old vine concentration, bright acidity and fine, mineral tannins — gives it real ageing potential, with critics suggesting 20 or more years of further development in bottle. It's a wine built for the cellar as much as the table.
——————————————————————————
5. What made the 2017 vintage significant for this wine?
——————————————————————————
2017 is regarded as one of the most acclaimed vintages for South African red wine in recent memory, falling in the middle of the Cape's drought years. The dry conditions produced smaller, more concentrated berries with excellent colour and flavour, while cooler nights through the growing season helped preserve freshness and structure. Vinified from that fruit, Werfdans 2017 is noted for being tighter, tauter and more serious than the more opulent 2016 vintage — a more composed, focused expression of old vine Cinsault.
——————————————————————————
6. How is Naudé Werfdans Cinsault 2017 made?
——————————————————————————
Werfdans 2017 is made with minimal intervention, using a combination of whole bunches, destemmed grapes and stems, fermented naturally in a stainless steel tank with gentle daily pump-overs over roughly two weeks. The wine is then pressed and transferred into older French oak barrels for 12 to 15 months of ageing, with minimal oxidation throughout the process. Beyond a small addition of sulphites for stability, nothing else is added.
——————————————————————————
7. What food pairs well with Naudé Werfdans Cinsault 2017?
——————————————————————————
Its fine tannins, bright acidity and red berry character make it a versatile food wine. It pairs well with roast lamb, duck and game, grilled or braised beef, and Mediterranean-style dishes built around tomato and herbs. Its freshness also suits charcuterie and semi-hard cheeses, and — served lightly chilled — it works well as a warm-weather red on its own.
——————————————————————————
8. What have critics said about Naudé Werfdans Cinsault 2017?
——————————————————————————
Master of Wine Greg Sherwood scored the wine 97 points, calling it one of the most exciting releases Ian Naudé has made under his own label, and praising its density, concentration and effortless elegance. It also received 17 points from JancisRobinson.com, 93 points from Neal Martin, and 4.5 stars in Platter's Wine Guide 2023 — critical recognition that places it among Naudé's most acclaimed reds.
——————————————————————————
9. Where can I buy Naudé Werfdans Cinsault 2017?
——————————————————————————
Werfdans 2017 is available directly on our online shop at R425 per bottle.
For enquiries, contact hello@naudewines.co.za or call +27 (0)72 914 3359.