Description
The 2022 Tiernes Chenin Blanc showcases grapes from a west-facing block planted in 1983 on granite soils. It presents beautiful aromatics of pear, peach, citrus, green apple, and fynbos. The palate is light yet detailed, offering great clarity of fruit, with a refreshing line of acidity and a pithy finish. This wine strikes a balance between presence and elegance, without being overpowering.
Score: 97/100 – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za
Food Pairing: Perfect with grilled seafood, fresh salads, or goat cheese.
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 95
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, 26/08/2025]
JancisRobinson.com 17.5
Chenin from a single vineyard planted in 1982. It was the fruit from this vineyard that winemaker Jasper Wickens then wife-to-be offered him, back when he was making wine for Adi Badenhorst, because she wanted her family to stop selling grapes to the co-op. The vineyard is located in a tiny valley which gets lots of shade in the hottest months and through which the wind blows, cooling it. But it doesn t ripen later, thanks to very hot afternoons. Massive diurnal range. Quite a unique mesoclimate and different from most of Swartland. 80% surrounded by mountain fynbos. Smells like roasted potato skins, then kumquat. Fissured with texture and flavour. Very intense. Smoky. Spicy. Like ground-up sumac and Persian limes. The acidity is bold and drives forward leaving a wake of flavour, amplifying. A distinctive wine walking the narrow line between dramatic and showy, staying on the side of dramatic. Unshakeable strength. Long and thrilling. (TC) 13% [Tamlyn Currin, 23/10/2024]
Anticipated maturity: 2024-2038
