Na de primeur van de witte wijnen in 2017 van Franco kiezen we ervoor om in 2018 voor zijn rode blend toe tevoegen aan het portfolio | Puur rood met diepe smaken | voornaamste winst is het grote aandeel Grenache Noir in de wijn | deze druif is meest gezochte blauwe druif onder de ZA new wave winemakers | perfect resistent tegen droogte en mist | vergist door de juiste persoon een enorme fruit gedreven stijl met fijne laagjes (denk aan Gredos, dani Landi maar ook Swartland, David & Nadia)
Named after Franco Lourens' dad, whose image appears on the label, Howard John is a separately fermented blend of mostly Grenache with 57% divided between Cinsault, Syrah and Carignan. Dry farmed and fermented with a high proportion of whole bunches, it's pale, savoury and spicy with racy red cherry and pomegranate fruit. 2021-25 92/100 Tim Atkin MW
'The 2017 Howard John, named after Franco Louren’s father (Franco being Chris Alheit’s wingman) is a blend of Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah and Carignan. It has a superb, detailed bouquet - very pure and very Old World in style – featuring Provencal-herb-infused black fruit and a touch of fennel. The palate is medium-bodied with some quite firm tannin, the 80% whole bunches lending a sense of earthiness to the structured finish that suggests it will benefit from a couple of years in bottle. Very fine.' Neal Martin Report 2018