Description
A unique and innovative Chardonnay, the 2021 The Sandman is crafted using an unconventional method that results in a wine with only 11% alcohol. After fermentation, the wine is aged in a 500-litre Terracotta Amphora, with the added influence of dried grape stalks and a layer of virgin olive oil for two months. This method imparts a vibrant colour and complexity to the wine. The nose is fresh with bright lemon and lime, creating a zesty, lively profile. On the palate, it’s surprisingly clean and complex for a natural wine, with a creamy texture and a finish that invites another sip.
Reviews
JancisRobinson.com 17.5/20
[Jancis Robinson, 01/01/2023]
Greg Sherwood 93
The colour of this wine defies the several weeks of skin contact, showing vibrant greens and yellows in the glass. Fresh lemon and lime form the crux of the aromatics, with endless brightness and life on the nose. The palate is endlessly complex and remarkably clean for a natural wine, whose texture in the finish begs another taste. [Greg Sherwood, 01/01/2023]
Producer Profile
INTRODUCTION
There is a phrase in French: ‘l’appel du vide’, which roughly translates to ‘call of the void’. It describes the brief moment when we consider succumbing to the lure of the siren song, or taking a leap from a great height. This Cabernet Franc is a consequence of that moment. An outright departure from regularity. The result is a bright, naturally low alcohol wine, with plenty of body and depth coming from the fact that the wine was fermented and matured on the skins for 4 months in a small amphora. A natural, unfined, unfiltered wine that may produce small amounts of tartrates and sediment in the bottle over time.
CELLAR INFORMATION
This old Cabernet Franc vineyard was planted on the rocky Eastfacing slopes of Franschhoek’s Dutoitskop Peak.
VINEYARD INFORMATION
In an effort to capture the purity and bright red fruit of Cabernet Franc, these grapes were harvested at a potential alcohol of just 11.5%. Each grape was meticulously sorted before being fermented and matured on the skins in a small amphora for four months. A true and pure expression of Cabernet Franc, spontaneously fermented with wild yeasts and void of any influence from oak. A natural, unfined, unfiltered wine that may produce small amounts of tartrates in the bottle over time.
