Mother Rock
Force Celeste Chenin Blanc 2022
All the grapes come from the Waterval Vineyard, on the Paardeberg, owned by Barry Schreiber and farmed by his daughter Franziska Wickens The old bush vines were planted in 1983 on decomposed granite and dry farmed since its initial planting with more recent block being planted in 2005. Since 2014, the vines have only received organic sprayings and the undervine work has been done purely by machine/hand and not chemically. The grapes were hand-harvested into small lug-boxes, limiting the damage to the grape in larger bins. They were harvested at different sugar levels to insure good pH and acid from the early picking with powerful structure and aromas from riper batches. The majority of the grapes were whole-bunch pressed with full lees to stainless-steel with about one-third of the grapes being destemmed and fermented on their skins for a month, prior to being pressed to stainless-steel. Fermentation occurrd naturally and at cooler temperatures (57°F) without any additions and after seven months of aging the components are blended to tank and settled naturally. The wines were bottled without fining, filtration or a sulfur addition.
Other Wines by this Producer
White
Johan is a playful, anything-but-by-the-book winemaker, and this white blend certainly reflects that ethos. A blend of four white grapes, including 25% Viognier, this wine is perfumed and expressive of its warmer climate upbringing.
Liquid Skin Chenin Blanc
The bush vine vineyard was planted in 1984, and has been dry farmed since its planting. As of 2014 the vineyard has been farmed fully organically with no chemicals sprayed on the vines and soil. Native fermentation, 100% whole-bunch, 10 days of pigeage, 12 months in 16hL concrete egg
Brutal! Chenin Blanc
Johan was the first South African producer to receive the invite to the exclusive 'Brutal!' club of winemakers, which require a "zero/zero" ethos when crafting wine ("nothing added, nothing taken out"). Native fermentation, 100% whole-cluster, 8 months in a concrete egg
Force Celeste Cinsault
This block was planted in 1990 on decomposed granite and ironstone soils in the Malmesbury region. It has been organically dry-farmed since 2014. Native fermentation, 100% whole-bunch pressed to old 500L French puncheon, 6 months neutral 500L French puncheon
Force Celeste Sémillon
These old bush vines were planted in 1983 on decomposed granite and dry farmed since its initial planting, with a more recent block being planted in 2005. 100% Chenin Blanc, Native fermentation, 7 months in stainless-steel
Force Celeste Pet-Nat Rose
Swartland
All the grapes are grown organically in the Malmesbury region where the soils are mostly decomposed granite with Malmesbury shale. 70% Pinotage, 30% Chenin Blanc, Native fermentation, neutral French tonneau, 5 months in bottle before release
