BRAZEN 2019
For a time during lockdown we were the only country in the world that were not allowed to export wine. I just assumed the international wine market would now turn their backs on us - out of sight, out of mind type of scenario. But the exact opposite happened. A very loyal client in the UK became aware of the difficult situation we were in here in SA and offered their support. You can read the story below, but the long and short of it is that I did 2 wines exclusively for them - Praus and Brazen. On top of the normal 750ml bottles, they also asked me to do a few 3 litre bottles - you call them Jeroboams. They are massive! 50% Fernão Pires, 25% Grenache Blanc, 25% Palomino. The Story25% whole-bunch fermented Fernão Pires from the Swartland. After picking the grapes we put the whole bunches, including stems, berries - everything as is - into a tank. We then foot-stomped it, (broke the grapes with our feet) and left it to ferment spontaneously. Another 25% Fernão Pires we de-stemmed (taking out the stems) and broke the berries, but we didn’t remove the skins. We then did the same with another 25% of Grenache blanc from the Voor-Paardeberg - destemmed, but kept the skins. And lastly 25% Palomino from Piekenierskloof - fermented as whole bunches (skins and stems) in a large 1600 litre clay amphora. This gives it a slightly darker/more orange colour, but gives the wine a beautiful perfumy floral-ness which you can only achieve by fermenting on skins.
The label is a graffiti my son had to do for a school project in lock-down, portraying a social message. Brazen means acting in a very bold and shocking way without shame. In this case the artwork portrays a message of a person who refuses to wear a mask, when everyone around him is wearing one - basically not caring what anyone thinks of him and at the same time showing the care of everyone surrounding him. He did this graffiti on the wall in our living room and I have to pay him a retainer for every bottle sold. He then (grudgingly) splits the proceeds 3-way with his younger brother and sister.
ALCOHOL (%): 13%
RESIDUAL SUGAR (g/L): 2.7
TOTAL ACIDITY (g/L): 5.27
PH: 3.5
Please note
Due to the many small batches of wines we make, availability changes on a daily basis. Please email aneen@blankbottle.co.za if you’d like to order any of our wines or if you are looking for a specific wine, and she will reply with a list of wines now selling. If the wine you are looking for is sold out, we could suggest some alternative excitement and/or we could also put together a unique selection for you.
Please also make sure you add your name to our list below. You’ll be the first to know of new releases.