Swerwer by JC Wickens, Rooi-Groen Semillon, Swartland, South Africa 2018

Rooi-groen ('red-green') is an old Afrikaans colloquialism used by farmers in South Africa to describe the colour-changing ability of Semillon, widely thought to be an old-vine phenomenon. Winemaker Jasper Wickens and his viticulturist wife Franziska have produced this 100% Gris from a vineyard planted six years ago with cuttings from a block dating back to the 1960s. Thanks to partial skin contact, it's has a shimmering copper-pink hue. On the nose there's gingered peach, orange, honeycomb and white blossom. Nectarine, red apple and pink grapefruit fill the palate, complemented by soft acidity and a gently savoury finish.