Blankbottle, Familiemoord, Piekenierskloof, South Africa, 2025

Product code: 7086

Producer Profile

Starting out making wine in a friends garage, Pieter Walser is today one of South Africa’s most engaging and original winemakers.

His rejection of convention in favour of curiosity, instinct and storytelling sets him and his wines apart. Founded in 2004, the tale of Blankbottle began when a lady came to Pieter asking for anything but Shiraz. ‘I don’t drink Shiraz’ were her exact words. He poured her a glass of wine. She loved it and bought 3 cases. It was a straight Shiraz. That was the moment he realised that people really do judge a book by its cover. By removing the cultivar from the bottle, you also remove preconceived ideas. Each release is treated as an individual narrative, with no grape varieties listed and no fixed stylistic boundaries. Pieter owns no vineyards but seeks out top quality fruit from exceptional sites across the Western Cape, often tiny parcels that slip beneath the radar. The result is an ever-evolving portfolio of distinctive, site-driven wines, many of which are made only once and never repeated. Each label is handcrafted by Pieter, using a variety of techniques such as woodcuts, lino, pencil drawings, stencils etc. Having no indication of varietals on the label - leaving it BLANK - removing all preconceptions as to what lies beyond.

Viticulture

Grapes are from a single vineyard old bush-vine high altitude vineyard on sandstone soil, high in the Piekenierskloof mountains.

Winemaking

The grapes were picked at optimal ripeness and cooled overnight to 4 degrees Celsius. The next morning the grapes were destemmed and crushed to an open top fermenter. As the tank filled the free run juice was removed into another tank. They drain all the juice possible until they are left with only skins and pulp. The skins and pulp underwent spontaneous fermentation and stayed on the skins for as long as possible. Pressed into older French oak small barrels, 10 months in barrel, blended and bottled.

Tasting Note

Pieter describes this as 'the most beautiful Grenache he could find' and we wholeheartedly agree. Raspberry ripple, fynbos-scented, spice, supple tannins and real intensity whilst retaining such delicacy. The label is based on the extraordinary but true story of how the police thought Pieter had killed his son and buried him in a shallow grave in the vacant property next to their house. The Cape Argus' article on 11 May 2013 about the incident titled “The mystery of the boy in the sandpit” serves as this wine label ... but panic not! It was nothing more than a misunderstanding!