Critics reviews
Neal Martin Wine Advocate October 2013
4.5/5 stars, Platter Wine Guide , wineonaplatter.com, Nov 2014
About this WINE
The Foundry
The Foundry is the personal project of Chris Williams, winemaker at Meerlust, along with friend and business partner James Reid. Chris spent his apprenticeship under Georgio dalla Cia at Meerlust and did a ‘stage’ in Pomerol with Michel Rolland before leaving in 1999 to set himself up as a consultant. During this period, he took on the challenge of winemaker at Delaire in Stellenbosch, but when Giorgio finally announced his retirement, the Myburghs invited Chris to return to Meerlust as cellar master, a post he took up in time for the 2004 vintage.
Apparently, during this period, his mail was still being delivered to the farm, such was his emotional connection to the estate. The condition of his return to Meerlust was that The Foundry could continue unhindered so, after three vintages, the project secured a more permanent home.
The Foundry rapidly gained critical acclaim on the South African wine scene. Its maiden vintage (2001) Syrah was awarded a five star rating (one of only 17 for the year) in the 2004 John Platter Guide, and its wines remain excellent to this day.
Stellenbosch
Stellenbosch is South Africa’s best-known wine region, producing a wide variety of wines from leading estates, even though it accounts for less than 20 per cent of the country’s total production. Designated wards within the wine region are Jonkershoek Valley, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch, Bottelary, Devon Valley and Papegaaiberg.
At 17,500 hectares, Stellenbosch remains the Cape's most famous and important fine wine district, thanks to its proximity to Cape Town, to the cooling influences of False Bay, its mountainous (ie Helderberg, Simonsberg), granitic topography and its centres of learning such as Elsenburg Agricultural College.
It's notable for the refinement of its Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, especially from the likes of Glenelly Estate, Keermont Vineyards Oldenburg Vineyards, Raats Family and Anwilka
Syrah/Shiraz
A noble black grape variety grown particularly in the Northern Rhône where it produces the great red wines of Hermitage, Cote Rôtie and Cornas, and in Australia where it produces wines of startling depth and intensity. Reasonably low yields are a crucial factor for quality as is picking at optimum ripeness. Its heartland, Hermitage and Côte Rôtie, consists of 270 hectares of steeply terraced vineyards producing wines that brim with pepper, spices, tar and black treacle when young. After 5-10 years they become smooth and velvety with pronounced fruit characteristics of damsons, raspberries, blackcurrants and loganberries.
It is now grown extensively in the Southern Rhône where it is blended with Grenache and Mourvèdre to produce the great red wines of Châteauneuf du Pape and Gigondas amongst others. Its spiritual home in Australia is the Barossa Valley, where there are plantings dating as far back as 1860. Australian Shiraz tends to be sweeter than its Northern Rhône counterpart and the best examples are redolent of new leather, dark chocolate, liquorice, and prunes and display a blackcurrant lusciousness.
South African producers such as Eben Sadie are now producing world- class Shiraz wines that represent astonishing value for money.
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Description
This Syrah wine has an intriguing nose of black, berry fruits, smoke and tobacco, with hints of grilled meats (braai?). The palate is elegant and refined, but with plenty of that ripe black fruit, laced with smoky tones and a little forest floor. It is drinking very well now, but with plenty of life ahead of it, thanks to the well-judged structure. A very impressive wine from the talented Chris Williams, also the winemaker at the famous Meerlust estate. Drink now to 2018+.
Chris Pollington, Fine Wine Account Manager
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