BLANKBOTTLE Empire Strikes Back Stellenbosch 2021

Description

Pieter Walser is one of the most innovative winemakers in the world, and is the producer of some of SA’s most coveted wines that you’ve probably never tasted. Within BLANKBOTTLE there are no 2 wines alike and about 30% of the wines are once-off limited editions. Pieter crafts unique wine blends, picking about 35 grape varieties from 60 vineyards around the Cape. Each of his wines is bottled and labelled according to the unique story behind it. The main aim of BLANKBOTTLE wines is to provide an honest, personal taste with no preconceived expectations that come with certain vintages or styles.

'Today I'm standing up to defend the EMPIRE - STELLENBOSCH. Silently, she’s been re-aligning her troops and now strikes back at the Swartland to establish herself yet again as a formidable force. Just for the record - I am a huge fan of Swartland white blends. The image of South African wines has changed dramatically over the past 10 years and the Swartland played a huge part in this. Their wines, especially the Rhône-style white blends are top notch. They are fun, young, energetic and unique and started to gain international fame. Stellenbosch, however (where I studied winemaking), is the original EMPIRE of South African wine. Like most of us, I like to support the underdog, and in the case of white blends, the Empire became exactly that. So I created a white blend based on similar varieties - a combination that could give some of the Swartland white blends a go. The empire is therefore now striking back at the Swartland. The label consists of two sections. On the left part of the label you will see a half star, which was the logo for the "Swartland Revolution". And on the right - stripes that represent a traditional and conservative EMPIRE.' Pieter Walser, Winemaker 

'This has a delicate, slightly restrained nose of ripe apricots, chamomile, hints of bee's wax, nettles, white blossom such as  honeysuckle, and bitter almonds. There is a subtle texture on the palate and this is has lovely purity to it.' Anja Breit, Philglas & Swiggot