BLANKbottle "My Köffer" (Cinsault) '22

BLANKbottle is the deeply personal project of Pieter Walser, one of South Africa’s most restless and original winemakers. Founded on curiosity rather than appellation or formula, BLANKbottle is built around the idea that great vineyards — not labels or regions — define great wines. Walser sources fruit from exceptional sites across the Cape, often working with parcels that would otherwise remain anonymous, and bottles them with minimal intervention and maximum intent.

“My Köffer” — Afrikaans for “my suitcase” — is a fitting name for a wine that reflects both movement and discovery. Cinsault, long valued in South Africa for its adaptability and perfume, finds a particularly elegant expression here. Farmed from carefully selected vineyards and handled with a light touch, the wine emphasizes freshness, clarity, and drinkability over extraction or weight.

The 2022 vintage is supple and expressive, with a Pinot-Noir-like profile that leans toward red cherry and cranberry, framed by soft, finely grained tannins. Subtle savory herbal notes add complexity, while the light, graceful structure keeps the wine fresh and easy on its feet. Lifted and balanced, it’s a quietly compelling expression of Cinsault that prioritizes drinkability without sacrificing character.

At the table, it shines with grilled vegetables, roast chicken, or spiced lamb, and it’s equally comfortable with a slight chill as an aperitif-style red. A thoughtful, character-driven wine that speaks to Pieter Walser’s instinctive approach, and a reminder of just how exciting South Africa can be when curiosity leads the way.