Blank Bottle, Kortpad Kaaptoe 2020

Golden coloured, Orange blossom on the nose with turkish delight, ripe pineapple jasmine and honeysuckle. On the palate more fruits of apricots, mango and honey  balanced with steely acidity. A long finish. 

Country: South Africa Region: Swartland Grape: Fernao Pires 

ABV:14.5% Bottle Size: 750ml

Additional Information: 100% Fernao Pires. Note that there are two styles of Kortpad Kaaptoe, this is the fuller bodied of the two with a black and gold label. The other, more restrained version has a white and gold label. ‘Rebel’ winemaker Pieter Walser started Blank Bottle in 2003, his ethos is to produce wines where quality speaks for itself and for people to approach his wines without prejudice and preconceived ideas on area, grape or vintage. 

The wine is named after an old footpath which serves as a shortcut from the Swartland to Cape Town. It was here that Pieter stumbled across a stunning parcel of bush vines planted 50 years ago in iron rich sandy soil with the Fernao Pires grape from Portugal. The bottling is reminiscent of a fine Condrieu from the Rhone Valley thanks to the luscious creamy texture and ripe tropical fruit flavours.

Two versions of this wine are made, this the ‘skinny version (grapes picked earlier with a  blank and gold label and the ‘refined’ version with a white and gold label). The label is printed on organic paper and has been inspired by the font used by the band AC/DC, all are applied by hand with glue (and therefore may slip off if wet). 

Pieter vinified this bottling using wild yeasts naturally occurring on the grape skins in large French oak casks. The 2020 vintage has the additional interest of having had some skin contact.  matured on the lees for a year before bottling