CHURCH SWARTLAND 2022 | Chenin Blanc
Swartland Chenin Blanc
Elegant, persistent and complex. Church Swartland Chenin Blanc wears its heart on its sleeve with rich, yellow fruit and a delicate perfume of lemongrass, citrus blossom and warm pastry. Given all the generous South African fruit the sun coaxed into the wine, the palate awards you with tangy acidity and a creamy texture seasoned with a salty, mouthwatering rim.
Fuller-toned flavours of caramelised loquat aromas add a profound depth as the Cape wine evolves, balancing the subtle and fresh salinity.
Awarded 90 points and Bronze for Trophy Wine Awards by Investec
Awarded 4.5 stars (93 points) for Platter's Wine Guide 2024 by Diner's Club
International Sales
Please note that we currently only ship our wines within South Africa. For International sales and shipping, please contact us.
Given the generous fruit that the sun coaxes into a Swartland Chenin Blanc, the balance of freshness, a creamy texture and the austere addition of savoury notes, this is a complete wine.
It is always exciting to compare Chenin Blanc's expressions from different terrains. The diversity of the South African Winelands compelled Harry Hartman to show two Chenins from two sought after Chenin territories. This Swartland wine's balance contributes directly to its persistence, which celebrates the wine's concentration and complexity. A hallmark Chenin Blank that is undoubtedly suitable for ageing, that's if you can resist not opening a bottle once you've read this.
APPEARANCE
The Swartland Chenin wears its heart on its sleeve, showing a blossoming shade of pale lemon, anticipating its future frock of a more beguiling appearance.
NOSE
Rich, yellow fruit gestures a full-bodied Chenin Blanc sans overtly post-fermentation characteristics with the promise of being an ambassador for a region that has become a trailblazer for South African Chenin Blanc. Without forfeiting that beguiling character synonymous with Chenin Blanc, it is the perfume of lemongrass, citrus blossom, orange candy and flaky pastry that captures the imagination most, tempered with the earthy aromas of a winter forest.
PALATE
The wine is dry yet elevated by a fruit ripeness, adding a tangy mouthfeel. The acidity melds with a salty taste that effortlessly seasons the wine and allows its different layers to timely award your senses. The flavour intensity of stone fruit persists, becoming richer as the wine warms up in the glass, sharing fuller-toned aromas of caramelised orange zest and stewed loquat, adding a profound depth to the wine.
The wine has a long finish, ushered by a subtle and fresh salinity. Take note of how temperature affects a wine like Chenin and how, if served too cold, it can subdue some of its subtleties but served too warm can irradicate its elegance and flatline what a tremendously lively wine this is.
