Darling Cellars, Chocoholic Pinotage, 2024

Grapes

Pinotage

Vintage report

Darling sits close enough to the Atlantic to benefit from those cooling Benguela-influenced breezes, and in 2024 the region leaned hard into that advantage. The season was broadly warm and dry, in keeping with the Western Cape's recent pattern, but Darling's coastal position helped moderate temperatures during the critical ripening period — preserving the natural acidity that defines the best wines here. We don't have granular detail on specific weather events for 2024 just yet, but the broad picture from producers suggests a harvest that came in well, with grapes arriving at the cellar in good condition and without the scramble that heat-stressed vintages can bring.

Chenin Blanc, as ever the region's calling card, looks particularly promising — the combination of old bush vines, schist-heavy soils, and that maritime air tends to produce wines with real grip and drive rather than the flabby tropical fruit you get further inland. Syrah also continues to find its footing in Darling, producing wines with a savouriness and freshness that sets them apart from warmer-climate versions. Most 2024s should be drinking well now and over the next three to five years, though the best Chenins will reward another year or two in the rack.