47-year-old Chenin vine at Welgegund, Wellington

WHILE DEDICATED to the conservation of the highly-endangered African wild dogs and their natural habitat, Painted Wolf Wines are so much more than the plethora of bottlings adorned with various forms of wildlife illustrations and animal names that do precious little for the reputation of the Cape’s finest reds and whites. A couple of years ago Jeremy and Emma Borg’s 2018 Roussanne and 2017 Mourvèdre earned top accolades at the Trophy Wine Show in South Africa, followed by a double gold medal for the 2017 Painted Wolf Pictus (white blend) at the Six Nations Challenge in Australia. Fast forward to 2021 and glowing reviews have been forthcoming for the Lightning 2020 at Mondial du Sauvignon in Belgium, Penny 2018 at the Viognier Challenge (SA), Roussanne 2019 at the National Wine Challenge (SA) as well as The Den 2020 in Winemag’s SA Chenin Blanc Report – and we’re not yet half-way through the year!

Rated ‘outstanding’ in the Chenin Report, The Den of Painted Wolf also stands out as the most easily affordable of the panel’s Top 10. Having no cellar or vineyard of their own, the Borgs are very resourceful in renting, outsourcing and buying in grapes and wine from here and there. The 2020 was vinified at Mischa Estate in Wellington, a blend of wine that Jeremy made using grapes from ‘heritage’ vines planted in 1974 on the Welgegund farm on the other side of town, with wine he had made for him by Correin Basson at Leeuwenkuil in the Swartland. To meet the man behind it all, head for the Painted Wolf tasting room in Main Road Paarl – best to make an appointment, given how much time he spends on the road, also making wine at the Portmore cellar, Voor-Paardeberg, and at Seven Springs on the Caledon side of Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge.

PAINTED WOLF THE DEN CHENIN BLANC 2020
WO Coastal Region: Chenin Blanc (100%) sourced mainly from Leeuwenkuil, in the Swartland, and from Welgegund, in Wellington – grapes from Leeuwenskuil tank-fermented using natural yeast and blended with barrel-fermented wine from 47-year-old vines at Welgegund.
Alc 12.5 | RS 2.6 | TA 5.9 | pH 3.4
Producer’s Tasting Notes: Abundant fresh citrus and tropcal fruit on the nose. A hint of oak lends a degree of complexity and texture while layers of fruit and straw linger on the palate. Should be drunk within two to three years after the vintage.
Winemag’s Tasting Notes: A very expressive nose with notes of pear, peach, flowers and herbs, while the palate has a dense core of fruit with zesty acidity and a pithy finish.
R85pb from the producer’s tasting room in Paarl.

Jeremy Borg in a block of Chenin Blanc at Leeuwenkuil in the Swartland