Big Move, Big Scores: Jasper Wickens Shines in the Swartland
We may be up to our ears in boxes as we make the move to Salisbury this week, but some news is simply too good to ignore. Greg Sherwood MW has just published his latest set of scores for Jasper Wickens’ Swartland wines – and they confirm what we’ve long believed: this is one of the Cape’s most quietly brilliant producers.
From the crystalline precision of the Tiernes Chenin Blanc 2022 (95+/100) to the benchmark elegance of the Wolwekop Semillon 2021 (97/100) and the follow-up 2022 (96/100), Jasper is crafting some of the most profound, terroir-driven wines in the Paardeberg – often flying just under the radar while his neighbours hog the headlines.
As we pack up shop, we wanted to share these highlights – and remind you that securing Wickens’ wines now means a place at the table with one of the Swartland’s brightest talents.
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Swerwer Wines
Wolwekop 2022
100% Semillon, Swartland
£36.98
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96 Points – Greg Sherwood MW
“After the high-scoring 97/100 point benchmark Wolwekop 2021, Jasper Wickens has pulled a little more magic out the bag to produce yet another enticing Semillon offering in 2022. A golden yellow colour, the wine displays a complex aromatics of pithy lemon citrus, leesy lemon biscuits, buttered white toast, brewed green tea, lemon grass, honey and delicate green herb nuances. Full and fleshy in the mouth, there is a clear harmony and balance punctuated by a stony granitic minerality supported by well-integrated acids and a pithy, peach stone fruit strand with peppery, sappy, lanolin hints. Another Old Vine masterclass from Jasper. Drink now to 2035+.” – Greg Sherwood MW.
Swerwer Wines
Tiernes 2022
100% Chenin Blanc, Swartland
£37.00
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95+ Points – Greg Sherwood MW
“The Tiernes vineyard planted in 1982 is very special indeed, overlooking the whole Waterval Farm of Francisca and Jasper Wickens from the top of the hill. With the vines grown on some of the deepest decomposed granite soils on the farm, the old vine Chenin Blanc grapes yield an incredibly complex and intense wine with aromatics packed with crushed rocks minerality, rain on granite boulders, lemon grass, grated lemon and lime peel, and delicate quince jelly notes. The palate is wonderfully intense and crystalline with real verve and vigour, a fruit purity of note with a chiselled mouthfeel of tart limes, fresh fennel, white peach, and yellow grapefruit pith. The concentration is slightly lighter and more ethereal than the 2021 but the purity and refinement are unmatched. The single vineyard Tiernes is undoubtedly one of the most profound Chenin Blanc expressions produced in the Swartland and a wine every fine wine collector should follow and buy. Drink on release and over the next 10+ years.” – Greg Sherwood MW.
Swerwer Wines
Chenin Blanc 2022
100% Chenin Blanc, Swartland
£26.99
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93+ Points – Greg Sherwood MW
“After the long, cool harvest of 2021, 2022 reverted back to more “normal” conditions with several heatwaves taking place during the early season in the Swartland forcing some wineries to harvest grapes perhaps a little sooner than they normally would have in order to preserve acidity. The Chenin Blanc grapes in this 2022 are all grown on deep decomposed Granite soils and offer up classical Swartland notes of wet hay, wet stone minerality, dried baking herbs, white peaches, orange blossom and pithy white citrus and pear fruit characteristics. With its impressively low, cool alcohol level of only 12.5%, the palate displays a light touch balance and elegance with cool, savoury peach notes, quince, and tangy apple puree. The acids are soft, well integrated, but bright and pithy and the finish stony and mineral with a certain degree of phenolic grip. A delicious wine with purity and precision that is ready to drink on release and over the next 6 to 8+ years.” – Greg Sherwood MW.
