2021 ROUSSANNE, The Foundry. Stellenbosch, South Africa

The Foundry was formed in 2000 between Chris Williams – the then head winemaker at the renowned Meerlust estate – and business partner James Reid. Within 4 years they were receiving a rare 5* award from South Africa’s leading critic – John Platter – for their 2001 Syrah. Chris’s partnership with Meerlust finished amicably in 2019, leaving him to focus fully on The Foundry.

The Foundry has a new and permanent home in the Paardeberg at Staart, the farm that the Reid family bought in the late 2000’s. Apart from the vines here, there is also an existing cellar. It’s where, incidentally, that the great Eben Sadie made the first vintage of Columella in 2000.

Although Chris also makes an excellent Chenin Blanc, his focus from day one has been very much on Rhône varietals – both white and red. In 2010, he secures a small parcel of Roussanne (which is sparsely grown across the Cape) from a vineyard across the road from Meerlust. Just 1ha in size the soil is weathered Helderberg granite (the same soil type as it found in the North Rhône).

Hand harvested, chilled overnight and whole bunch pressed to avoid the phenolics typical of this variety. Juice with a high solids content was fermented in seasoned 300lt Allier hogsheads with partial malolactic fermentation. The wine was matured in oak with lees stirring for a further 8 months before bottling.

There is real touch of the North Rhône in the style here. A textural wine but with plenty of freshness. Stone fruit flavours are tempered with light vanilla oak with a touch of lemon curd. Has a nice savoury touch to it. You can enjoy now but can equally age for another 2-3 years. Serve chilled but not too cold in glasses with plenty of swirl room.