Blankbottle, Pierre Le Cois, Stellenbosch, South Africa, 2022

Product code: 7089

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

An organically farmed blend from the Helderberg. VSP trellis vineyards protected from the South Easter wind, located in the middle of the Helderberg 200 meters above sea level. High soil water holding capacity - high clay content generated from decomposed scale.

Winemaking

The grapes were picked at optimal ripeness and cooled overnight to 4 degrees Celsius. The next morning the grapes were destemmed to open top fermenters. The juice underwent spontaneous fermentation and stayed on the skins for as long as possible. Pressed into French oak small barrels - 40% new, 18 months in barrel, blended and bottled.

Tasting Note

Compact, dense Bordeaux blend, packed with damson and black berry fruit. This wine has real presence, yet underlying freshness and grip from the iron-rich clay soils. A wine dedicated to farmers all over the world, and here's why 'The X-factor - The Pierre-Le-Cois effect as Pieter calls it. The guy and nowadays often, the girl in the bakkie. The eyes who look holistically at the big picture and apply knowledge and experience within the comfort of like-minded wise minds - enabling the application of practices to guide these vines to the ultimate expression of themselves. Season upon season.