Description
The 2022 Swerwer Chenin Blanc is a refined and delicate wine, with a zesty freshness that makes it incredibly drinkable. Sourced from 40-year-old dry-land vineyards on granitic mountain slopes, the wine shows intense flavors of peach, citrus, and green apple, balanced by a tight, fresh texture and crisp acidity. The grapes were hand-harvested, gently whole-bunch pressed, and naturally fermented in old French oak barrels to highlight the terroir-driven flavors.
With floral and herbal nuances on the nose, and a slightly savoury finish, this wine is a leaner, fresher expression, typical of the cool 2021 vintage. It will continue to develop over the next 2 years, revealing more complexity.
Food Pairing: Pairs well with grilled fish, salads, or soft cheeses.
Producer Profile
Swerwer Wines are produced by winemaker JC Wickens based in the Swartland winemaking region. Jasper is a young, passionate, fun-loving guy who isn’t afraid to do things a little differently. He can usually be found in his wine cellar working away with 80’s rock playing in the background. During his early winemaking days he used to ‘migrate’ from harvest to harvest in different winemaking regions in the world including the US, Spain & France. These frequent travels not only gave him invaluable winemaking experience but also earned him the nickname ‘Swerwer’ meaning Wanderer in Afrikaans.
Reviews
Greg Sherwood 93
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, 26/08/2025]
JancisRobinson.com 17+
Hand-picked. The lowest alcohol he s ever picked Chenin at, says winemaker Jasper Wickens. He tells me he never picks any vineyard at one go – sometimes even four picks. He picks on a spectrum of flavours. 2022 was cooler at a time when they normally have heatwaves. Spontaneous fermentation. Beeswax. Honeysuckle and wonderful pith notes and roasted spelt and apple skin. Slightly more reserved than the 2023, skating the edge of austere. But I think this will develop in a very interesting way. Reminds me of Chablis, curiously. 12.5% [Tamlyn Currin, 23/10/2024]
Anticipated maturity: 2024-2034
