Experimental phase: initial rating derived from official awards and critic reviews
James Suckling - 95 points
2023
Lourens Family Wines' 2022 'Lua Ilse' Single Vineyard Grenache Noir is a distinguished red wine hailing from the Piekenierskloof region of South Africa. Crafted entirely from Grenache Noir grapes cultivated at an elevation of 650 meters on sandstone soils, this wine exemplifies the unique terroir of its origin.
In the glass, it presents a captivating bouquet of wild strawberries, sour cherries, dried herbs, and white pepper. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, featuring finely grained tannins and bright acidity. It showcases a purity of fruit with a constant succulence and crunchiness, culminating in an ethereal and harmonious finish.
Lourens Family Wines is a small, family-owned winery based in the scenic Paarl Valley of the Western Cape, South Africa. Established in 2016, the winery focuses on crafting honest wines with character and personality, reflecting the unique stories of specific vineyards, exceptional locations, and the passionate farmers who tend them.
The winery is committed to minimal intervention winemaking, avoiding the use of added yeasts, acids, enzymes, or fining agents. Aging is carried out in older, neutral oak barrels, allowing the purity of the fruit and the expression of the terroir to shine through.