Lourens Family Wines 'John Howard' Stellenbosch 2021

Description

Franco Lourens spent some years working with the great Chris Alheit before setting to focus entirely on his own range of wines. This is a breathtakingly self-assured range and in just a few vintages, places Franco into the very top bracket of top-end New Wave SA producers. Whilst still extremely modest, he is inevitably set to join the likes of Chris Alheit, Eben Sadie, Adi Badenhorst, Duncan Savage et alia in the shimmering constellation of New Wave South African stars. Sharing cellar space with good friend Lukas Van Loggerenberg, Franco works with a variety of sites across the Western Cape including the country's oldest Verdelho vineyard, and two exceptional sites in Piekenierskloof.

Named after Franco Lourens’ father, whose image features on the label, this is a such a charming red blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah, all sourced from dryfarmed bush vines in the Swartland. The whole bunches bring gorgeous perfume, not just bright fruit, but lots of freshly cracked black peppercorns over pomegranate, pretty florals and hints of Asian spice. Such vibrancy on the palate with tissue paper fine tannins. 

The grapes are from drylands bush vines in the Swartland and Echalas vineyards. Fermentation with 40% stems. Light extraction. No yeast, acid or enzymes added. Wine matured for 10 months in old neutral 300l + 500l barrels. Un-fined and coarse filtration.

It has a superb, detailed bouquet - very pure and very Old World in style – featuring Provencal-herb-infused black fruit and a touch of fennel. The palate is medium-bodied with some quite firm tannin, the 80% whole bunches lending a sense of earthiness to the structured finish that suggests it will benefit from a couple of years in bottle. Very fine.