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Lourens Family Wines

2022

‘Skuinskap’

Steen   |   Piekenierskloof - South Africa
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

Franco was introduced to this single-vineyard Chenin Blanc site through his good friend John Seccombe of Thorne & Daughters. John pulls a bit of fruit from this vineyard, farmed by Ryno Kellerman, for his white blend as well as Sauvignon Blanc for a varietal wine. It is a truly special vineyard planted in 1977 on sandstone soils at 2,500 feet in elevation in the far northern reaches past Swartland and into the Citrusdal Mountains. The vineyard is organically, dry-farmed and is trellised on a ‘skuinskap’ system pictured on the label, that is far more common with table grapes than Vinifera ones. It really is a special expression of this grape with finesse yet plenty of power.

The grapes were handpicked and hand sorted at the winery. Then the bunches are left intact and whole-bunch pressed and after a very light settling racked to older French barriques where the wine ferments on the lees. After 10 months in wood the wine is then racked to tank and bottled without fining and only a very coarse filtration and small sulfur addition.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Chenin Blanc
  • Vineyard: Sandell Vineyard - farmed by Ryno Kellerman
  • Vine Age: 47-years-old
  • Soil Type: Decomposed sandstone with rocky sandstone fragments intermixed with clay
  • Viticulture: Practicing organic – dry-farmed
  • Fermentation: Native – 500L neutral French tonneau (whole-bunch pressed)
  • Skin Contact: None
  • Aging: 10 months in neutral 500L French tonneau on fine lees without stirring
  • Alcohol: 13%
  • pH: 3.3
  • Total Acidity: 6.5 g/L
  • Total SO2: 50 ppm
  • Total Production: 208 cases
  • UPC: 700083413857

Tasting Note

Every year this wine is a compelling, herbal delight on the nose with a hint of lanolin. The palate is bright and well balanced, with clean acidity, stone fruit notes, and savory salinity. The mid-palate weight gives way to a long, jovial finish.

Press & Reviews

Tim Atkin, MW

95

"One of those wines that looks as good as it tastes, Skuinskap uses raw material from a 46-year-old vineyard at 750 metres in Piekenierskloof. Fermented and aged in older, 500-litre barrels, it displays the focus and precision of its cool climate site, showing racy acidity, mountain herb aromas and citrus, lime and green apple flavours. 2024-28"

- Tim Atkin, MW

The WineMag

97

"From a Piekenierskloof vineyard planted in 1977. Matured for 10 months in old 500-litre barrels. Pear, nectarine, flowers, hay and earth on the nose while the plate has excellent fruit density and punchy acidity before a persistent and deeply savoury finish. Poised and super-complex, a singular wine."

- Christian Eedes
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Producer


Lourens Family Wines

Region


Piekenierskloof

Country


South Africa

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