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Thorne & Daughters

2021

‘Cat’s Cradle’

Chenin Blanc   |   Swartland - South Africa
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

Swartland Chenin blanc needs no introduction, having long assumed its place among the world’s key expressions of Chenin blanc. Langkloof, where John sources the grapes for this wine is an old bush vine Chenin Blanc vineyard planted on the granite slopes of the Paardeberg that belongs to the Rossouw family. The vineyard is situated between parcels owned by Eben Sadie and Chris Alheit, which says something about its aptitude for greatness. John has worked with this vineyard for a few years but never had enough fruit to bottle a varietal Chenin Blanc, until 2017, making 2021 the 5th vintage of this cuvée.

As with all of the wines…the winemaking is pretty simple. Handpicked, whole bunch basket-pressed direct to old French barrels, larger ones in this case, with the gross lees. No sulfur addition and fermentation kicks off naturally with ML following right after.  A tiny hit of sulfur is added in the winter for light protection and then the wine ages for nine months.  After this maturation time the barrels are racked to tank where the wine settles naturally and it is bottled with crossflow filtration and just a small sulfur addition. No fining.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Chenin Blanc
  • Vineyard: Two blocks off of Langkloof Vineyard - farmed by Scholtz Roussouw (Aprilskloof, Paardeberg)
  • Vine Age: 42-years-old
  • Soil Type: Weathered schist with sandy loam
  • Viticulture: Sustainable - dry-farmed
  • Fermentation: Native – whole-bunch pressed to two old French demi-muids
  • Skin Contact: None
  • Aging: 9 months in neutral 228L French oak barrels
  • Alcohol: 12%
  • pH: 3.22
  • Total Acidity: 7 g/L
  • Total SO2: 64 ppm
  • Total Production: 117 cases
  • UPC: 606110152433

Tasting Note

The wine shows aromas of lemon balm, apple blossom, exotic waxes and honey. A textured palate is lifted by bright acidity and a wet stone freshness with a long finish.

Press & Reviews

Tim Atkin, MW

95

"'Very poor soils' is how John Seccombe describes this 1979 dry land vineyard on the Paardeberg. 'You can't push it.' His bony, chiselled Chenin Blanc flirts with austerity, but has wonderful freshness, precision and mouth-watering acidity. Spicy, earthy and pithy, with citrus, fennel and nutmeg flavours. 2023-30."

- Tim Atkin, MW

Decanter

95

"Grapes for Cat’s Cradle come from an old bush vineyard in Langkloof on the granitic soils of the Paardeberg mountains. The 2021 vintage provided much-needed rain during the winter after five years of drought. The wine is made with as little intervention as possible, whole-bunch pressed into old oak barrels where it sits for fermentation, malolactic and maturation. Minimal SO2 is used throughout the process. Greg Sherwood MW: A savoury ‘Marmite’ expression, earthy yellow fruits, musky undertones, hints of chalk dust and a vibrant palate of sweet and sour fruits. Punchy and persistent. Beverley Blanning MW: Mineral nose. Floats across the tongue, but its flavours are stern and mineral. Not a hint of sweetness here. Gorgeous saline finish with mineral bite. Roger Jones: Juicy and fruit-led with darkness in the background. Sultanas and baked apples with a fresh splash of apple dust vibrancy. Gripping and fresh."

- Greg Sherwood, MW

The WineMag

94

"Grapes from an old Swartland vineyard. The nose shows lime and white peach but also some intriguing oxidative notes including some bruised apple, nuts and spice. The palate has a dense core of fruit and snappy acidity – it comes across as quite tense and reticent now but should drink beautifully in two to five years’ time."

- Christian Eedes
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Producer


Thorne & Daughters

Region


Swartland

Country


South Africa

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