Following on the
successful launch of the new avante-garde attire of the Foundation Stone in
2013, Rickety Bridge fleshes out this exciting label to include a Rosé and
white blend.
The Rickety Bridge brand
has become synonymous with ever-evolving innovation and creativity, while
maintaining the magic and ethos of a 200-year history. Their distinctive
Rhône-style blend, the Foundation Stone, was first launched in 2008, and
mirrors this trend of novelty and originality, with the 2012 vintage comprising
a new blend of six Rhône-style cultivars. These are Syrah, Cinsaut, Mourvèdre, Grenache,
Tannat and Viognier. Since 2013, this popular blend has been adorned in a new,
vividly named after the cornerstone of
the original ‘rickety bridge’ which straddles the Franschhoek River which ushers
one into the estate, the Foundation Stone boasts a highly acclaimed track
record: The maiden 2008 vintage attained an admirable four-star rating in the
2010 Platter’s SA Wine Guide; the 2010 Foundation
Stone was named one of the
Top 100 SA Wines for 2012, scooping, in addition, a Best Value award; and the
2012 Foundation Stone was recently judged one of the Top 100 SA Wines for 2014.
Last year Rickety Bridge
decided to complement this wine with the only other long standing blend in the range,
the Rickety Bridge Rosé, which as from the 2013 vintage is dressed in the same
striking label as the original Foundation Stone, but with subtle changes to the
colour palette.
Rickety Bridge has now
just released its first white blend into the Foundation Stone range – a subtly
oaked 5-cultivar Mediterranean-style wine, again sporting the Foundation Stone
label with appropriate changes.
Consensus in the industry
is that premium white blends, whether Rhône, Chenin based or Bordeaux in style,
is the most exciting category of South African wines at the moment. This and
Wynand’s personal intrigue with the category motivated Rickety Bridge to seek
out interesting pockets of high quality vineyards of Mediterranean varieties,
such as Ugni Blanc, Roussanne, Viognier and Grenache Blanc to team with the
Chenin Blanc from Rickety Bridge which has become very highly regarded.
Remarks Managing Director
Jan van Huyssteen, “Having proved the success of the Foundation Stone red blend
over the past few years, our winemaker Wynand Grobler was inspired to create
complementary blends to accompany it, and he now has a trilogy of captivating
blends. The distinctive label designed for us by Fanakalo in Stellenbosch has
been adapted for the two additions to the range.”
RICKETY BRIDGE FOUNDATION
STONE 2012 RED
This wine is an intriguing
blend of 38% Syrah, 23% Cinsault, 20% Mourvèdre, 9% Tannat, 8% Grenache, and 2%
Viognier. All six varietals were matured separately in barrel for a total
maturation time of 18 months and then blended for bottling.
Tasting Note: The wine is
silky soft on the palate with succulent tannins and notes of white pepper, blackcurrant,
white chocolate and cherry tobacco on the nose. Layered complexity on the nose
and palate surprise with every interaction.
Maturation Potential:
Drink now or in the next 6 years.
Awards: Judged one of the
Top 100 SA Wines for 2014.
Food pairing: Enjoy with
ostrich or beef carpaccio, duck, venison and rump steak with pepper sauce.
Retail price:
Approximately R85 at leading retailers and specialist wine merchants.
RICKETY BRIDGE THE
FOUNDATION STONE ROSÉ 2013
This refreshing wine is a
blend of 57% Shiraz, 22% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Viognier. 10% of
the wine was fermented and aged in small French oak barrels. All 4 varietals
were vinified separately and blended just before bottling.
Tasting Note: A dry
traditional style Rosé with juicy red cherries and strawberries intermingled
with Turkish Delight and a touch of spice. A lovely creamy yet fresh palate showing
a perfect balance between acidity and sweetness. Ready to be enjoyed right now.
Food pairing: Picnics,
salads, sushi, prawns, smoked salmon or on its own.
Retail price:
Approximately R50 at leading retailers and specialist wine merchants.
RICKETY BRIDGE THE
FOUNDATION STONE 2013 WHITE
The wine is an appealing
blend of 49% Chenin Blanc, 15% Grenache Blanc, 15% Ugni Blanc, 15% Roussanne
and 6% Viognier.
All five varietals were
matured separately in barrel for a total maturation time of 10 months before
being blended for bottling.
Tasting Note: All 5
varietals contribute to this complete and well-balanced wine. Elegant with
spring blossoms, restrained peach, mango and stone fruit on the nose, subtle hints
of oak spice and a refined fruit expression. A rich and well-structured wine
that finishes with elegance and freshness on the palate.
Will benefit from some
aging.
Maturation Potential:
Drink now or in the next 6 years.
Food pairing: Fish dishes,
chicken dishes, goats cheese salad, pork, veal, Asian influenced chicken and
fish dishes and roast duck.
Retail price:
Approximately R85 at leading retailers and specialist wine merchants.
