Swerwer new releases

Swerwer, meaning “wanderer”, is the name of Jasper Wickens’s wines and evokes the life of a young winemaker as he or she travels the world to gain work experience. Wickens, however, married  Franziska Schreiber, the third generation of her family to farm prominent Paardeberg property Waterval in 2016 and since then he’s become a lot more grounded. Tasting notes and ratings for the new releases as follows:

Swerwer Chenin Blanc 2020
Price: R240

Complex aromatics of pear, peach, dried herbs, hay and some leesy complexity while the palate is rich and flavourful with moderate acditiy and a little spicy bite to the finish. That much more fully realized than 2019.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Swerwer Rooi-Groen Semillon 2020
Price: R245

From Semillon Gris, some skin contact gives the wine and a slight off-pink colour. Subtle notes of peach, naartjie, red apple and dried herbs on the nose. The palate is quite broad although not listless – layers of flavour culminating in a gently savoury finish. As ever, a pleasantly quirky wine.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Swerwer Cinsault Grenache Tinta Barocca 2020
Price: R245

Partial whole-bunch fermentation before maturation in larger oak. The nose shows attractive notes of red berries, fynbos and spice with an undertone of earthiness while the palate is medium bodied and lithe – pure fruit, fresh acidity and powdery tannins make for particularly cheerful drinking.

CE’s rating: 91/100.

Swerwer Shiraz 2020
Price: R265

Nothing too overt about the nose with subtle notes of black berries, fynbos, lavender and pepper while the palate shows good fruit concentration, bright acidity and crunchy tannins, the finish long and dry – an elegant take on the variety due in part to the granitic soils of the vineyard in question.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Swerwer Touriga Nacional 2020
Price: R260

Single-variety Touriga Nacional can be a bit of an oddity but this is characterful and compelling. Red and black berries, fynbos, olive, spice, some meatiness and a hint of reduction on the nose while the palate has good depth of fruit, a nice line of acidity and nicely firm tannins.

CE’s rating: 93/100.

Check out our South African wine ratings database.

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