Provenance

Private Client

Critics Ratings

Lourens Family Wines Howard John 2019:
‘Highly perfumed 2019 more seriously styled than 2018 (92 pts). Appetising cherry & almond notes, touch liquorice & warm spice, all reined in by firm tannin & zesty acidity. Paardeberg grenache with cinsaut & syrah, bushvines on granite. 13% alcohol, like next 2.’ - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2021, 4.5* (93/100)

‘Now produced entirely with Swartland grapes - the Wellington Carignan is no more - Howard John is a beautifully judged cuvée of Grenache with 54% Cinsault and Syrah. Showing lots of whole bunch spice, it's deceptively light and floral, all rose petal, raspberry and cream, with fine tannins, lovely freshness and stony minerality. My kind of red blend. 2022-27’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2020, 94/100

‘46% Grenache, 27% Cinsault and 27% Syrah, grapes sourced entirely from Swartland, the portion of Wellington Carignan that marked previous vintages no longer a feature. Approximately 80% whole-bunch fermentation. Complex aromatics of red and black fruit, rose, fynbos, olive, earth and spice. The palate has good fruit weight (despite a modest alcohol of 13%) to go with bright acidity and crunchy tannins. It’s a very measured wine – approachable without sacrificing character.’ – Chrisitan Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 95/100 (Oct 2020)

Lourens Family Wines Lua Ilse 2019:
‘Outstanding grenache noir named for first-born daughter. 2019 from dryland bushvines in Piekenierskloof, savoury & restrained, with pepper & roast game enlivened by cranberry, juniper fruit. Ripe tannins & juicy acidity add to excellent balance & lengthy finish. 25% wholebunch. Natural ferment, 9 months old oak only, unfined, as all these.’ - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2021, 5* (96/100)

‘The 2019 Grenache Noir Lua Ilse, which includes 25% whole-cluster fruit, is clean and precise on the nose of red cherries, pomegranate and rose petal scents, plus a light tobacco scent in the background. The cohesive, harmonious palate is fleshy on the entry, with sappy red fruit and a mineral-driven finish that is pure class. This is an outstanding maiden Grenache from winemaker Franco Laurens.’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 93/100 (Apr 2021)

‘What a début! Franco Lourens' daughter - after whom this wine is named - will be very proud when she grows up and tastes this. Pale in colour, but not lacking in intensity, this is a hauntingly perfumed Grenache from a dry-farmed bush vine parcel in Piekenierskloof, with succulent strawberry and raspberry fruit, some stony grip and a wonderful combination of power and finesse. 2021-27’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2020, 96/100