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Lourens Family Wines

2020

‘Howard John’

Red Blend   |   Swartland - South Africa
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

Franco’s father (Howard John) gave the seed money gift and the unwavering support that would ultimately become Lourens Family Wines and Franco knew his first wine already had a name and label.  The 2020 edition of Howard John was the first made in the new shed that Franco shares with Lukas Van Loggerenberg.  The new space afforded Franco the ability to really take his time with ferments and bring fruit in at different times.  This vineyards for this vintage relatively remain unchanged from the 2019, with only a few new blocks making it into the mix from existing vineyards.  The Cinsault really shined in 2019 and Franco was thrilled to work with that block just outside of Malmesbury again.  All of the vines are organically farmed bushvines and primarily from the granitic slopes of the Paardeberg.

The grapes were all hand-picked and sorted before spontaneous fermentation took place in open top fermenters. The grapes were fermented approximately 33% whole-cluster (with a little more than 25% of the Grenache and all of the Syrah).  Gentle hand plunging during the first week and foot stomping the second week was the extent of the extraction methods and after a total of 16 days on skins the lots were pressed to old French tonneau for aging. Following ten months of maturation the barrels were racked to tank and the wine settled naturally.  It was bottled without fining or filtration and just a small sulfur addition.

Stats

  • Grapes: 44% Grenache Noir – 31% Cinsault – 25% Syrah
  • Vineyard: Single bushvine site on Paardeberg (Grenache & Syrah) - bushvine vineyard west of Malmesbury (Cinsault)
  • Vine Age: Grenache (6-years-old) - Syrah (17-years-old) - Cinsault (24-years-old)
  • Soil Type: Eroded granite (Grenache & Syrah) – granitic sand & ironstone marl (Cinsault)
  • Viticulture: Practicing organic – dry-farmed
  • Fermentation: Native – stainless steel (Grenache - 25% whole-cluster – Syrah - 100% whole-cluster – Cinsault - 100% de-stemmed)
  • Skin Contact: 16 days
  • Aging: 10 months in neutral 225L French barrique and 500L tonneau
  • Alcohol: 13%
  • pH: 3.65
  • Total Acidity: 4.9 g/L
  • Total SO2: 47 ppm
  • Total Production: 375 cases
  • UPC: 6009879885958

Tasting Note

Translucent crimson with ruby hues. The nose has complex aromas of raspberries, red cherries, fresh anise, and underlying proteas and roses. There is so much freshness to this wine. The palate is ample, but by no means heavy with bright acidity, crunchy tannins and a stony, petrichor-ish minerality. A briny olive note peers on toward the lengthy and firm tannin finish.

Press & Reviews

Platter's Guide

93

"Attractive 2020 southern Rhône-style blend from grenache noir with cinsaut & syrah. Aniseed & clove spice lifts soft red cherry & strawberry fruit, slight grip of tannin leads to fresh, lengthy finish. 60% wholebunch component adds silky texture. From Swartland dryland bushvines."
- Cathy Marston

Tim Atkin, MW

93

"'The best I can do for my old man,' says Franco Lourens of this medley of Grenache with 56% Cinsault and Syrah, which features a drawing of his dad on the label. Juicy, refreshing yet serious, it has subtle whole bunch perfume, liquorice and ginger notes and a core of stony plum, raspberry and red cherry fruit. 2022-28"
- Tim Atkin, MW

The WineMag

95

"Whereas quite a few New Wave red wines sacrifice fruit depth for freshness, Lourens seems to achieve both. The nose shows top notes of lavender and fynbos before red and black berries, oliver, pepper and spice. The palate is medium bodied with fresh acidity and chalky tannins. Good fruit definition, lots of intricate flavours, the finish intensely savoury."
- Christian Eedes
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Producer


Lourens Family Wines

Region


Swartland

Country


South Africa

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