The 2024 Swartland Chenin shows its familiar sun-warmed fruit, underpinned by crystalline clarity and acidity.

The nose opens with peach and nectarine, lifted by a sweep of sweet spice — cardamom and a brush of orange zest. With air, white pepper and apricot sherbet emerge, alongside faint fynbos notes that add lift.

The palate is luminous: a seam of lemon-sorbet acidity broadens into juicy stone fruit and orange slices before coiling back to a vivid line of white grapefruit. With time in the glass, the wine leans further into its ripe citrus core, while subtle spice and a touch of chalk dust frame a dry, textural finish.

The Swartland entered 2024 on the back of a cold, wet winter with replenished soil reserves and deep vine dormancy. Budding was even and healthy for early-waking cultivars such as Chenin Blanc. The shift to summer brought warm, dry conditions and sparse rainfall, punctuated by strong winds during flowering. These factors produced small, concentrated Chenin berries that ripened early, retaining bright acidity while delivering generous, sun-washed fruit.