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The Liberator Francophile Chenin Blanc
By Pete's Provisions
€23,00
WHY WE LOVE THIS WINE
Sourcing and creating The Francophile Chenin Blanc marked a departure for Rick who commissioned the making of this wine from a fantastic resource of old, bush vine Chenin, rather than liberating an existing parcel. It’s intended to be sustainable and repeatable; to be enjoyed copiously in the knowledge that it is not subject to the finite quantities imposed by The Liberator Episodes or Special Editions.
With Rick’s Francophile palate in mind, these parcels were selected from two growing sites, namely the Bottelary Hills and the Simonsberg mountains. In collaboration with his old mukker, Carl van der Merwe, they were fermented in stainless steel tanks to maintain freshness. Without recourse to any malo-lactic fermentation, the wine was aged on its lees, prior to being bottled.
For those commentators content to view South African Chenin Blanc as the primary source of industrial quantities of sub-standard supermarket promotional fodder, think again. This is no facile example; it’s a wine that is designed to demonstrate what can be achieved with a little bit of care and attention in both the vineyard and the cellar. It might well remain South Africa’s most widely planted grape variety, but it’s a fact that should be celebrated and not dismissed.
ABOUT THE WINERY
Beyond the periphery of South Africa’s conventional vineyard regions lie great vinous treasures, resigned to anonymity; forgotten, abandoned or just simply undiscovered. it is the mission of Rick, our intrepid Cape Crusader, to seek out and liberate these rare wines, consigning them to the table of the most inquisitive and discerning imbiber. Each episode represents a precious parcel that is both unique and finite.
on his regular jaunts around the Cape, seeing the number of great wines that are resigned to a tragic fate of being blended away or disposed of in bulk confounded Rick. It might be an occasional experimental batch, or possible an interesting off-cut from some proud winemakers latest premium release. Whatever their provenance, it’s Ricks mission as The Liberator to procure these precious vinous orphans and consign them to a better home.
Inevitably, each wine discovered by The Liberator comes with its own story; a tale of its untimely existence. Every release has its testimony recounted, in a bottle and on screen, as a unique and evocative episode.
WINE STATS
Producer | Richard Kelly |
Year | 2020 |
Region | W.O. Stellenbosch |
Country |
South Africa |
Styles | Bright & Juicy |
Size | 750ml |
Closure | Screw Cap |
Alcohol |
14% |
Varieties |
Chenin Blanc |