Lourens Family Wines new releases

“It’s been a while since I was so excited about the release of a vintage,” says Franco Lourens of Lourens Family Wines of his 2024 wines. “Healthy grapes, fantastic analysis and the wines were made at [new Paarl cellar] Brookdale which meant I got to work with good equipment.”

Proefkonyn Verdelho 2024
Price: R215
From Cavalli grapes. Peach, apricot, pineapple and earth on the nose. The palate is generous, even weighty – dense fruit, well integrated acidity and a gently savoury finish. Alc: 13.78%.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Lindi Carien 2024
Price: R310
66% Chenin Blanc, 23% Verdelho, 11% Colombar (seven days skin contact). Grapes sourced from across the Western Cape; Colombar replaces Grenache Blanc in this vintage. Exotic aromatics of pear, peach, orange, pineapple with potpourri and spice in the background. The palate is rich and flavourful with tangy acidity and finish that is savoury and lightly grippy. Alc: 13.27%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Mathias Chenin Blanc 2024
Price: R465
NEW. From a 0.9ha Paardeberg vineyard planted in 1981. Lime, lemon, green apple, peach, herbs, a hint of ginger and some leesy complexity. Super-concentrated with punchy acidity, the finish long and savoury, slightly pithy in texture. A riveting wine – great focus with plenty of hidden power. Al: 13.34%.

CE’s rating: 97/100.

Skuinskap Chenin Blanc 2024
Price: R465
From a Piekenierskloof vineyard planted on sandstone at 750m above sea level in 1977. Smoky reduction precedes pear, peach, a hint of citrus and straw on the nose. Light yet intensely flavoured with crisp acidity and an ultra-dry finish. Elegant, linear and taut. Alc: 13.32%.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

Howard John 2024
Price: R310
44% Grenache, 39% Cinsault and 17% Syrah sourced from Swartland. 30% whole-bunch fermentation. Enticing aromatics of red berries, pomegranate, rose, fynbos and a hint of white pepper. With succulent fruit, lively acidity and chalky tannins. Approachable now but balanced and structured enough to drink well until at least 2030. Alc: 13.82%.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Lua Grenache Noir 2024
Price: R370
Grapes for a Piekenierskloof vineyard planted in 1998. 25% whole-bunch fermentation. Black berries, wilted rose, fynbos, earth and spice on the nose while the palate shows dense fruit, big acidity and firm but not coarse tannins. Pure and deep with no impression of sweetness – substantial but not ponderous, powerful yet precise. Alc: 14.2%.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

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