We’re very excited to share the vintage 2023 wines from Lourens Family Wines are now available.
Lourens Family Wines is run by the jovial winemaker Franco ‘Poenie’ Lourens. He sources fruit from Stellenbosch, Swartland, and particularly Piekenierskloof for his wines.
He is enamoured with the unique flavours and textures of Cape Chenin Blanc, Verdelho, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir, Cinsaut and Syrah. For Poenie, these are the varieties that best express the uniqueness of the South African winelands.
Each label tells a story. In honour of family members labels are sketches of his father, Howard John, his wife, Lindi Carien, and their daughter, Lua Ilse. The fourth wine sports something a little different, the trellis system where the Skuinskap Steen grapes grow.
― Skuinskap Steen trellis system
And with the recent addition of little Matthias to the Lourens family, who knows? Maybe a new wine will be made in his honour a few years down the line.
When talking about the vintage, Poenie says that he is immensely happy with the wines from 2023. They are open and accessible (but more concentrated than the 2022s), and have a lovely texture and freshness to them (but are not as tight or closed as the 2021s). There is definitely more gravitas and nuance in the 2023s.
After working with small percentages of Palomino and Colombar for the Lindi Carien previously, he has excluded them from the blend in 2023, saying that the wine felt more serious and complete without them.
The Howard John is similar in cepage to last year, but this year’s wine has more weight and purity to it. Lovely.
Gentle whole cluster pressed. No yeast or enzymes added.
Wine fermented and matured for 10 months in old neutral 300l + 500l barrels.
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za: Stone fruit, lemon, soft citrus, potpourri, ginger and a little yeasty complexity on the nose. The palate is intense but not weighty – good clarity of fruit and snappy acidity before a finish that’s dry, more salty than grippy.
95pt
Tim Atkin MW: Stylish. Stony and scented with notes of fynbos and petrichor, a hint of skin tannin quince, citrus and greengage. A delight. 2024-30
95pt
Lourens Family 'Skuinskap Steen' Chenin Blanc 2023
W.O. Piekenierskloof
100% Chenin Blanc
This wine is made from a singe vineyard planted in 1977 in the Piekenierskloof ward situated in the
Citrusdal mountain District on decomposed sandstone, at about 750m above sea level.
Gentle whole cluster pressed. No yeast or enzymes added. Wine matured and fermented for 10 months in old neutral 500l French barrels.
These vineyards are passionately farmed by the Sandell family and team.
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za: The nose shows stone fruit, orange and some waxy character. The palate is powerful – dense fruit, big acidity and finish that has just a touch of quinine-like bitterness. Thick textured in the best sense and super-flavourful.
94pt
Tim Atkin MW: Naturally fermented in old oak, with full malolactic to follow, this is racy, salty and ethereal, with subtle mountain herb and citrus flavours, chiselled minerality and seductive mid-palate texture. 2024-30
96pt
The grapes are from a dryland bush vine vineyard in Piekenierskloof. Light extraction in the cellar. Fermentation with 25% stems. Wine matured for 10 months in old neutral 500l French barrels.
The maiden vintage of this wine was made in honour of the birth of Franco and Lindi’s first born daughter, Lua Ilse, in 2019.
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za: Attractive aromatics of red berries, pomegranate, rose, herbs and spice. Pure fruit and bright acidity, the tannins lightly grippy. Well-structured, this shows particular agility and finesse.
94pt
Tim Atkin MW: Perfumed, taut, mineral- etched red with precision, power and focus, potpourri aromas and layers of raspberry and redcurrant. Impressive stuff. 2025-30
95pt
The grapes are from drylands bush vines in the Swartland and Echalas vineyards. Fermentation with 40% stems. Light extraction. Wine matured for 10 months in old neutral 300l + 500l barrels.
Named in honour of Franco’s father.
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za: Complex aromatics of red and black berries, fennel, fynbos, olive brine, cured meat and pepper. The palate displays concentrated fruit, lemon-like acidity and fine tannins, the finish deeply savoury. A vintage of sophistication and nuance.
95pt
Tim Atkin MW: A judiciously blended cuvée combining concentration with freshness, it’s peppery, savoury and spicy with lovely cranberry, pomegranate and black olive flavours. 2024-30
93pt
Lourens Family Wines | Vintage 2023 release
"A vintage of sophistication and nuance."
― Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za
We’re very excited to share the vintage 2023 wines from Lourens Family Wines are now available.
Lourens Family Wines is run by the jovial winemaker Franco ‘Poenie’ Lourens. He sources fruit from Stellenbosch, Swartland, and particularly Piekenierskloof for his wines.
He is enamoured with the unique flavours and textures of Cape Chenin Blanc, Verdelho, Grenache Blanc, Grenache Noir, Cinsaut and Syrah. For Poenie, these are the varieties that best express the uniqueness of the South African winelands.
Each label tells a story. In honour of family members labels are sketches of his father, Howard John, his wife, Lindi Carien, and their daughter, Lua Ilse. The fourth wine sports something a little different, the trellis system where the Skuinskap Steen grapes grow.
― Skuinskap Steen trellis system
And with the recent addition of little Matthias to the Lourens family, who knows? Maybe a new wine will be made in his honour a few years down the line.
When talking about the vintage, Poenie says that he is immensely happy with the wines from 2023. They are open and accessible (but more concentrated than the 2022s), and have a lovely texture and freshness to them (but are not as tight or closed as the 2021s). There is definitely more gravitas and nuance in the 2023s.
After working with small percentages of Palomino and Colombar for the Lindi Carien previously, he has excluded them from the blend in 2023, saying that the wine felt more serious and complete without them.
The Howard John is similar in cepage to last year, but this year’s wine has more weight and purity to it. Lovely.
Read more
Lourens Family Mixed Case
This case includes two vintages of each blend and one of each single varietal wines:
‘Lindi Carien’ White Blend 2022
‘Lindi Carien’ White Blend 2023
‘Skuinskap Steen’ Chenin Blanc 2023
‘Lua Ilse’ Grenache Noir 2023
‘Howard John’ Red Blend 2022
‘Howard John’ Red Blend 2023
*5% Discount & Free delivery
THE WINES:
R305.00Add to basket
Lourens Family 'Lindi Carien' White Blend 2023
W.O. Western Cape
62% Chenin Blanc – Swartland + Piekenierskloof
30% Verdelho – Stellenbosch
8% Grenache Blanc – Piekenierskloof
This wine is named in honour of Franco’s wife.
Gentle whole cluster pressed. No yeast or enzymes added.
Wine fermented and matured for 10 months in old neutral 300l + 500l barrels.
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za:
Stone fruit, lemon, soft citrus, potpourri, ginger and a little yeasty complexity on the nose. The palate is intense but not weighty – good clarity of fruit and snappy acidity before a finish that’s dry, more salty than grippy.
95pt
Tim Atkin MW:
Stylish. Stony and scented with notes of fynbos and petrichor, a hint of skin tannin quince, citrus and greengage. A delight. 2024-30
95pt
R465.00Read more
Lourens Family 'Skuinskap Steen' Chenin Blanc 2023
W.O. Piekenierskloof
100% Chenin Blanc
This wine is made from a singe vineyard planted in 1977 in the Piekenierskloof ward situated in the
Citrusdal mountain District on decomposed sandstone, at about 750m above sea level.
Gentle whole cluster pressed. No yeast or enzymes added. Wine matured and fermented for 10 months in old neutral 500l French barrels.
These vineyards are passionately farmed by the Sandell family and team.
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za:
The nose shows stone fruit, orange and some waxy character. The palate is powerful – dense fruit, big acidity and finish that has just a touch of quinine-like bitterness. Thick textured in the best sense and super-flavourful.
94pt
Tim Atkin MW:
Naturally fermented in old oak, with full malolactic to follow, this is racy, salty and ethereal, with subtle mountain herb and citrus flavours, chiselled minerality and seductive mid-palate texture. 2024-30
96pt
R370.00Add to basket
Lourens Family 'Lua Ilse' Grenache Noir 2023
W.O. Piekenierskloof
100% Grenache Noir
The grapes are from a dryland bush vine vineyard in Piekenierskloof. Light extraction in the cellar. Fermentation with 25% stems. Wine matured for 10 months in old neutral 500l French barrels.
The maiden vintage of this wine was made in honour of the birth of Franco and Lindi’s first born daughter, Lua Ilse, in 2019.
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za:
Attractive aromatics of red berries, pomegranate, rose, herbs and spice. Pure fruit and bright acidity, the tannins lightly grippy. Well-structured, this shows particular agility and finesse.
94pt
Tim Atkin MW:
Perfumed, taut, mineral- etched red with precision, power and focus, potpourri aromas and layers of raspberry and redcurrant. Impressive stuff. 2025-30
95pt
R305.00Add to basket
Lourens Family 'Howard John' Red Blend 2023
W.O. Swartland
42% Grenache Noir
29% Cinsault
29% Syrah
The grapes are from drylands bush vines in the Swartland and Echalas vineyards. Fermentation with 40% stems. Light extraction. Wine matured for 10 months in old neutral 300l + 500l barrels.
Named in honour of Franco’s father.
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za:
Complex aromatics of red and black berries, fennel, fynbos, olive brine, cured meat and pepper. The palate displays concentrated fruit, lemon-like acidity and fine tannins, the finish deeply savoury. A vintage of sophistication and nuance.
95pt
Tim Atkin MW:
A judiciously blended cuvée combining concentration with freshness, it’s peppery, savoury and spicy with lovely cranberry, pomegranate and black olive flavours. 2024-30
93pt
BUY LOURENS FAMILY WINES HERE