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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

THE FOUNDATION STONE FROM RICKETY BRIDGE SPREADS ITS WINGS


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.