The Foundry Roussanne 2022

The Foundry Roussanne

Tasting Note

Shows vivid fruit concentration and intensity on the nose. The wine shows intense white pear, floral and lifted mineral and savoury aromas. The palate displays bright, fresh acidity on entry, followed by white peach, lemon curd and bread dough and a very fine crystalline minerality and rounded fleshiness. Typical varietal texture rounds out the palate before persistent length and clean finish. 

Producer

It is not just because they are really good friends that we’ve been working together since The Foundry was conceived over a kitchen table in Camps Bay some twenty years ago. It just so happens that Chris Williams also responsible for making some of the best wine in the Cape.

This was something that was immediately vindicated when the maiden Foundry 2001 Syrah was awarded a five star rating (one of only 17 for the year) in the 2004 John Platter Guide.

With James acting as a sleeping partner (he needs to retain a low profile in the venture since his day job is managing Accolade Wines South African interests), Chris remains the main driving force in the winemaking and being the face of The Foundry.

He spent his apprenticeship under Georgio dalla Cia at Meerlust and did a ‘stage’ in Pomerol with Michel Rolland before, in 1999, leaving to set himself up as a consultant. During this period, he took on the challenge of winemaker at Delaire in Stellenbosch, but when Giorgio finally announced his retirement, the Myburghs invited Chris to return to Meerlust as Cellarmaster. He took up the post in time for the 2004 vintage. Apparently, during this period, his mail was still being delivered to the farm, such were his emotional connection to the estate. The condition of his return to Meerlust was that The Foundry could continue unhindered so, after three nomadic vintages, the project secured a more permanent home.

The partnership with Meerlust came to a close at the end of 2019, when, in his 49^th year, he announced that he was leaving Meerlust to concentrate on The Foundry full time.

The Foundry has a new and permanent home in the Paardeberg at Staart, the farm that the Reid family bought in the late 2000’s. Apart from planting vines, there is also an existing, if rustic cellar. It’s where Eben Sadie made the first vintage of Columella in 2000. There are plans to bring the cellar up to 21^st century standards over the next couple of years.

The Foundry Roussanne - Hay Wines