Winemaker Notes
Abundant fresh citrus, wet stone and tropical fruit aromas give way to a vibey bright creamy palate. Crisp acidity and a hint of vanilla oak add to the texture, and the wonderful fruit just lingers on and on. Exceptional value.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The Painted Wolf 2024 Swartland The Den Chenin Blanc (in a screw-cap bottle) is a lot of fun with bright citrusy aromas, crushed stone and wild sage. The wine offers a crisp, lean feel to the palate, and this is exactly the bottle you need on a hot afternoon on the porch. Fruit comes from the Swartland and from heritage vines planted in 1974 in Wellington. There is an added 10% Viognier that adds honey and yellow rose.
Unquestionably one of the most diverse grape varieties, Chenin Blanc can do it all. It shines in every style from bone dry to unctuously sweet, oaked or unoaked, still or sparkling and even as the base for fortified wines and spirits. Perhaps Chenin Blanc’s greatest asset is its ever-present acidity, maintained even under warm growing conditions. Somm Secret—Landing in South Africa in the mid 1800s, today the country has double the acreage of Chenin Blanc planted compared to France. There is also a new wave of dedicated producers committed to restoring old Chenin vines.
Literally meaning "the black land," Swartland takes its name from the endangered, indigenous "renosterbos" (translating to rhino bush), which used to be plentiful enough to turn the entire landscape a dark color certain during times of year. The district, attracting some of the most adventurous and least interventionist winemakers, excels in robust and full-bodied reds as well as quality fortified wines.