Blankbottle Empire Strikes Back 2021

Not just a Star Wars reference - South Africa's play on Rhone Valley white

Godello (Verdelho, Gouveio), Chenin Blanc, Marsanne, Rousanne, and Viognier

$62.00

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Stone Fruit, Floral, and Herbaceous, Toasted and Creamy / Buttery

BODY: Medium -
DRYNESS: Very Dry
ACIDITY: Medium +
TANNIN: Light
ALCOHOL (%): Pronounced (12-14%)

Origin: Coastal Region (Stellenbosch, Franschhoek, Swartland, Constantia & More), South Africa

Grape Varietals:

Godello (Verdelho, Gouveio), Chenin Blanc, Marsanne, Rousanne, and Viognier

Winemaking:

Direct Press, Wild yeast, and On Lees Ageing

Maturation: 7-12 Months Concrete Tanks, Amphora (Quevri), and Oak Barrels

Awards:

WESTERN FOOD PAIRING
Rilletes, Foie Gras, Mac & Cheese

ASIAN FOOD PAIRING
Zi Char, Hokkien Mee, Jeera Rice

The Blankbottle Winery

A winery that mainly produces one-off wines, having no indication of cultivar on the bottle, not only demands complete honesty when it comes to quality, but it allows Pieter the opportunity to introduce once-off limited runs of interesting wines

Description

Blankbottle Empire Strikes Back 2021

Blank Bottle's Empire Strikes is a wine that pays homage to Stellenbosch, which winemaker Pieter Walser feels has been overshadowed by the Swartland Revolution. The label features a half red star to represent the revolution and black and white stripes to signify Stellenbosch, "The Empire," fighting back.

Grape Varietals & Region: Chenin blanc from the granite Firgrove hills, Chardonnay from the Helderberg's deep rich soils, 2 blocks of Verdelho from the Helderberg foothills and Rousanne and Marsanne from the Blaauwklippen road.

Taste Profile: This wine has a delicate, slightly restrained nose of white nectarines, chamomile, beeswax, nettles, honeysuckle and almonds. There is a waxy texture on the palate, yet the wine is fresh, bright and pure.

Winemaking Process: The grapes were picked at optimal ripeness and cooled overnight to 4 degrees celsius. The next morning the grapes were pressed as whole bunches. The juice underwent spontaneous fermentation in concrete egg shaped tanks, amphora and older French oak barrels. Deep winter the wine received one sulfur addition. 10 months on the leese, blended and bottled.

Bright & Mineral Whites

From the limestone character of Sancerre to the green, herbaceous Sauvignon Blanc of Marlborough, this style group often shows off cut grass and wet stone. Often associated with coastal regions or limestone based terroir, these wines are characterised with crisp acidity, mineraiity, citrus tones, with a hint of grassiness