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Lourens Family Wines

2021

‘Proefkonyn’ Méthode Ancestrale

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

About

This is the second release from Franco’s experimental lab program, known as ‘Proefkonyn.’  ‘Proefkonyn’ is the Afrikaans term for ‘guinea pig’ and representative of the experimental nature of this side-brand of Lourens Family. This vintage Franco made two wines under this moniker, a skin-contact Sauvignon Blanc and an ancestral method Chenin Blanc.  This wine comes from a site that makes into Lindi Carien and was the source of the first ‘Proefkonyn’ release, the skin-macerated Chenin.  The granitic soils of the Paardeberg really show in this minerally, savory and taught offering.

The grapes were hand-harvested overnight and placed into small lug boxes then brought back to the winery where they were softly whole-bunch pressed directly to stainless-steel with off of the primary lees in contact with the juice.  Fermentation occurred naturally and when the wine was nearly dry, after roughly 3-4 weeks, the wine was bottled without any additions or filtrations and left to finish fermentation in bottle.  After four months aging, Franco felt the wine was in the proper spot to release without disgorgement.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Chenin Blanc
  • Vineyard: A single site on the Paardeberg
  • Vine Age: 37-years-old
  • Soil Type: Decomposed granite
  • Viticulture: Practicing organic – dry-farmed
  • Fermentation: Native – stainless-steel and finished in bottle
  • Skin Contact: None
  • Aging: 4 months in bottle
  • Alcohol: 10%
  • Residual Sugar: 2 g/L
  • pH: 3.26
  • Total Acidity: 6.4 g/L
  • Total SO2: 11 ppm
  • Total Production: 83 cases
  • UPC: 0781718583237

Tasting Note

Is it possible to smell granite and smell ‘dry’?  That is the case here.  Lightly hazy in the glass, more overcast than cloudy, lemon pith, dry apple juice, a bit of cashew skin and a light splash of kiwi juice.  Fresh, dry, frisky and has the perfect amount of fizz to titilate with savory and crunchy vegetal tones leading to a penetrating and dry finish.

Producer


Lourens Family Wines

Region


Swartland

Country


South Africa

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