BLANKbottle But Why 2021 Bottle size: 750ml
South Africa, Ceres Plateau
R385
‘But Why? shows the freshness and precision of its high-altitude source at 750 metres in Ceres. Driven by acidity and minerality, it combines granular tannins with stylish 30% new wood and redcurrant and blackcurrant leaf flavours. Does Cabernet Sauvignon need a partner? 2024-30’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2023, 93/100
The Story:
Way back, midway through harvest 2015, a friend showed up at the Winery carrying two Pick&Pay bags filled with ripe grapes. Each bag contained a representative sample of a vineyard. “Do you want to buy this?” he asked. “What's the story?” I threw the question back at him.
His answer intrigued me: both vineyards were planted as un-grafted vines 750 meters above sea-level in decomposed sandstone in the Koue Bokkeveld - on the Ceres Plateau… Now planting Shiraz in the mountains made sense, but my first words when he told me the other bag contained Cabernet Sauvignon were: “BUT WHY would anybody think of planting Cabernet so high above sea-level?”. Normally height above sea-level equals cool temperatures during ripening and it’s common knowledge that the biggest challenge for Cabernet producers are unripe, green tannins. But, what the heck! I thought the story was great and for the first time ever I committed to making wine from vineyards I had never set eyes on.
Today, 8 years later, we know a lot more. What I did not know back in 2015 was that the site’s radiation levels (intensity of sunlight) were off-the-charts high, not the temperature... the sunlight! You know when you are standing on a snow-covered slope high on the Alps in Switzerland? On a clear day the sunlight is warm and intense but the temperatures are still low. Same thing.
Combine these conditions with very cold night temperatures and you get a longer hang time (the time the grapes spend attached to the vine). It slowly accumulates sugar while absorbing massive amounts of sunlight, and sunlight is what ripens. And when we pick in early April, the grapes have moderate sugar levels, ripe tannins and high acids.
So today is the release of BUT WHY 2021 - to show the world EXACTLY WHY there happened to be Cabernet Sauvignon planted at 750m above sea-level on the Ceres Plateau.
The Story:
Way back, midway through harvest 2015, a friend showed up at the Winery carrying two Pick&Pay bags filled with ripe grapes. Each bag contained a representative sample of a vineyard. “Do you want to buy this?” he asked. “What's the story?” I threw the question back at him.
His answer intrigued me: both vineyards were planted as un-grafted vines 750 meters above sea-level in decomposed sandstone in the Koue Bokkeveld - on the Ceres Plateau… Now planting Shiraz in the mountains made sense, but my first words when he told me the other bag contained Cabernet Sauvignon were: “BUT WHY would anybody think of planting Cabernet so high above sea-level?”. Normally height above sea-level equals cool temperatures during ripening and it’s common knowledge that the biggest challenge for Cabernet producers are unripe, green tannins. But, what the heck! I thought the story was great and for the first time ever I committed to making wine from vineyards I had never set eyes on.
Today, 8 years later, we know a lot more. What I did not know back in 2015 was that the site’s radiation levels (intensity of sunlight) were off-the-charts high, not the temperature... the sunlight! You know when you are standing on a snow-covered slope high on the Alps in Switzerland? On a clear day the sunlight is warm and intense but the temperatures are still low. Same thing.
Combine these conditions with very cold night temperatures and you get a longer hang time (the time the grapes spend attached to the vine). It slowly accumulates sugar while absorbing massive amounts of sunlight, and sunlight is what ripens. And when we pick in early April, the grapes have moderate sugar levels, ripe tannins and high acids.
So today is the release of BUT WHY 2021 - to show the world EXACTLY WHY there happened to be Cabernet Sauvignon planted at 750m above sea-level on the Ceres Plateau.
| Condition | New |
|---|---|
| Winemaker | Pieter Walser |
| Alcohol | 14% |
| Blend information | 100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Drink to | Drink or cellar |
| Variety | Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Rating | TA 93 |
| Technical analysis | RS: 1.38 g/l | TA: 5.65 g/l | PH: 3.53 |
| Producer information | Pieter Walser is one of the world’s most innovative winemakers and produces some of South Africa’s most coveted wines that you’ve probably never tasted. Pieter crafts unique wine blends, picking about 35 grape varieties from 60 vineyards around the Cape. Each bottling is a unique and delicious snapshot of the vintage and vineyards and expresses BLANKbottle’s one-of-a-kind vinous vision. Each wine is bottled and labelled according to the story behind it and half will never make a re-appearance. The main aim of BLANKbottle wines is to provide an honest, personal taste with no preconceived expectations that come with certain vintages or styles. |
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FREE SHIPPING:
Available on all orders over R1,500, excluding event tickets. The expected delivery times are the same as 'Standard door-to-door' below.
STANDARD DOOR-TO-DOOR:
Shipping fees are calculated on the delivery ‘street code’ provided during checkout.
COLLECTION (Cape Town only):
Orders are available for free collection at our Cape Town office only. You will be notified as soon as your order is ready for collection.
CELLARING:
Wine Cellar offers professional wine storage at our premises in Cape Town. If you are not an existing cellaring client, please view our rates and set up an account by visiting our cellaring page.
JOHANNESBURG ONR:
For this special overnight road service, orders must be placed before 13h00 SAST. The order will be delivered by the close of business the following working day.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING:
We use a third party courier for international shipping. Please contact info@winecellar.co.za for the rates and delivery options.
FREE SHIPPING:
Available on all orders over R1,500, excluding event tickets. The expected delivery times are the same as 'Standard door-to-door' below.
STANDARD DOOR-TO-DOOR:
Shipping fees are calculated on the delivery ‘street code’ provided during checkout.
- Cape Town & surrounds: 1 – 2 working days
- Joburg, Pretoria, PE & Bloemfontein: 3 – 4 working days
- Durban & regional areas: 4 – 5 working days
COLLECTION (Cape Town only):
Orders are available for free collection at our Cape Town office only. You will be notified as soon as your order is ready for collection.
CELLARING:
Wine Cellar offers professional wine storage at our premises in Cape Town. If you are not an existing cellaring client, please view our rates and set up an account by visiting our cellaring page.
JOHANNESBURG ONR:
For this special overnight road service, orders must be placed before 13h00 SAST. The order will be delivered by the close of business the following working day.
INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING:
We use a third party courier for international shipping. Please contact info@winecellar.co.za for the rates and delivery options.
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