The Foundry Grenache Noir 2021

The Foundry Grenache Noir 2020 is a refined and expressive red wine that captures the essence of its unique vineyard site and meticulous winemaking process. This wine offers a harmonious blend of fruit, spice, and floral notes, making it a delightful choice for any occasion.

Viticulture:
The grapes for this Grenache Noir are sourced from a 1-hectare vineyard at Fijndraai in Stellenbosch, situated on heavily de-composed granite soils just 4 km from False Bay. The vineyard is North-West facing and managed by Chris Williams. Planted in 2007, the vineyard is maturing well, showcasing quality and site expression. The trellised vines allow for precise canopy management, enhancing fruit complexity and balance. The small crop ripened under perfect conditions in 2017, harvested at modest sugar levels but full flavor ripeness, ensuring lower alcohol content with bright acidity, freshness, and fruit expression.

Vinification:
The grapes were hand-harvested and cooled overnight. They were then partially de-stemmed and crushed, leaving some whole berries and bunches intact. About 15% of the stalks were included. The initial fermentation was un-inoculated, with a neutral Rhone strain introduced later to complete fermentation. Only 40% of the free-run juice was barrel-aged in seasoned tight-grain French oak, while 60% remained in a cement tank for malolactic fermentation (MLF). After 8 months, the blend was assembled and allowed to harmonize for another 5 months in neutral concrete tanks before bottling. No fining or filtration was done.

Technical Analysis:

Alcohol: 13.5% vol
Total Acidity: 5.7 g/l
pH: 3.35
Residual Sugar: 5.5 g/l
Tasting Notes:
The Foundry Grenache Noir 2020 has a youthful deep ruby color with good intensity due to the low production per vine. On the nose, it displays a distinctive floral fleshy fruit quality intensified by black pepper, spice, and a sanguine note. The palate is medium-bodied with intense crushed dark fruit, peppery spiciness, and an intricate, fairy-dust-like tannic structure. The finish is persistent, making this wine delicious now and promising to improve and hold for up to 10 years.