Proefkonyn, meaning Guinea Pig, is a Verdelho from Franco Lourens, it is his “playground” for experimenting with different varieties and processes. He emphasises that he’s not trying to reinvent Verdelho but is simply having fun making it, and that consumers shouldn’t expect a wine similar to the rest of the Lourens Family Wines range. Verdelho is known for its resilience to heat and drought and its natural acidity and low pH.
The wine was fermented spontaneously in two older, neutral 500L barrels and matured on its fine lees for 10 months. It was bottled unfined and with only coarse filtration. On the palate, it presents a profile of yellow fruits with a clean, energetic character that might be reminiscent of a Chenin Blanc.
”This is the second vintage of a stand-alone Verdelho from Franco Lourens, all sourced from Cavali’s extensive estate in Stellenbosch. Fermented and aged in older barrels, with maturation on fine lees, it’s sappy, focused and bone dry, showing pear and subtle stone fruit flavours and a savoury finish. 93/100 ” – Tim Atkin MW
