2023 Swerwer - Touriga Nacional Swartland (750ml)

Swerwer is the project of Jasper Wickens, who began his winemaking career in 2009 working alongside Adi Badenhorst at the Kalmoesfontein property in the Paardeberg, becoming a key figure in the Swartland Revolution movement along the way. He established his own Swerwer label in 2012 while still working at AA Badenhorst Family Wines, finally going full time in 2018 after his last harvest there, moving into a repurposed cellar at his own Waterval farm. His range, now built entirely around Paardeberg fruit, includes wines from Grenache, Cinsault, Syrah, Tinta Barocca, and Touriga Nacional.

This Touriga Nacional comes from a northwest-facing vineyard planted in 2007 high on the Paardeberg mountain, where sandy, granitic soils and cool morning air temper the region's otherwise warm, arid climate. Rather than chasing the power the variety is known for in Portugal's Douro and Bairrada regions, Wickens aims for a more measured, nuanced style, letting the site's natural freshness guide the wine's overall character.

The wine shows complex layers of blueberry and dark forest fruit over a dense, succulent palate, framed by raw, tightly wound tannins from a hands-off winemaking approach. The finish stays bright and lifted rather than heavy. Pair it with seared duck breast, lamb chops, or grilled venison.