Viognier, The Foundry Cape of Good Hope, 2009

Viognier The Foundry 2008

The Foundry was established in 2000 and is the brainchild of Meerlust’s winemaker Chris Williams in partnership with James Reid.

Working closely with a handful of growers, fruit is sourced from across the Cape to secure grapes at optimum ripeness from sites which are best suited to each variety. Long-term contracts have been concluded for specific rows of vines to meet The Foundry’s demand for high quality fruit which is expressive of its source vineyards; 4.2 hectares of vineyards are leased in total. The overall planting ratio is 80% Syrah, 20% Viognier.

Each lot of grapes is vinified separately according to its intrinsic character, taking great care not to over-extract or manipulate the fruit. No recipes are followed and both traditional and modern techniques are used. The aim is to produce wines which the owners will enjoy drinking. For the Foundry Syrah, which is The Foundry’s chief focus, this means big, flavourful, yet elegant wines with silky, opulent tannins. The Viognier makes for a complex white with a strong gunflint minerality, which some have mistaken for reduction.

The wines are vinified, bottled and matured at Meerlust Estate in Stellenbosch.

Fresh aromatic nose is quite perfumed with flowery, gentle peachy fruit. The palate has an appealing fresh texture with rich grapey, white peaches with a hint of lychees and nectarines, and a good acidity to balance with a touch of vanilla. Sophisticated with real personality.