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Thorne & Daughters

2024

‘Paper Kite’

Old Vine Sémillon   |   Swartland - South Africa
Shelf Talker Spec Sheet Wine Label Bottle Image

About

One of the key heritage varieties in South Africa is Sémillon, a grape variety that the modern wine industry was practically built on, but which now finds itself nearly obsolete. There are still a number of incredible, old Sémillon vineyards and John continues to focus on those sites. ‘Paper Kite’ is his expression of old vine Sémillon, and is sourced from the famed old vines of the Kweperfontein vineyard in the Paardeberg. These old clones of Sémillon (including a tiny amount of Semillon Gris dotted about) deliver an expression that is very much at odds with the modern, facile, aromatic clones. There is a pure vinosity to this wine; John & Tasha adore the rich and textural wines that the Paardeberg soils express on this grape.  The tail end of 2023 was distinctly un-summery with one of the coldest, wettest Decembers on record followed by the exact opposite in January where it was insanely hot and dry.  That yin-yang resulted in beautifully ripe and healthy fruit on a Valentine’s Day pick and not showing the heat stress from the tail end of the season. One of the barrels of this wine formed the base of John’s first ever Cape Winemakers Guild wine as well.

The winemaking approach here is as simple as possible in order to produce the clearest expression of this vineyard site. Handpicked, whole bunch basket-pressed direct with full lees to 500L Stockinger barrels. Fermentation occurred naturally with full maloctic following right after. After nine months in fermentation vessels the barrels were blended to tank where they settled naturally then bottled with a coarse crossflow filtration and small sulfur addition.

Stats

  • Grapes: 95% Sémillon Blanc - 5% Sémillon Gris
  • Vineyard: Kweperfontein Vineyard on the Waterval Farm – farmed by Franziska Wickens
  • Vine Age: 61-years-old
  • Soil Type: Alluvial granitic soil
  • Viticulture: Practicing organic – dry-farmed
  • Fermentation: Native – whole-bunch pressed to Austrian Stockinger 500L tonneau (one new and three third-passage)
  • Skin Contact: None
  • Aging: 9 months in Austrian Stockinger 500L tonneau (one new and three third-passage)
  • Alcohol: 13%
  • pH: 3.25
  • Total Acidity: 6 g/L
  • Total SO2: 60 ppm
  • Total Production: 208 cases
  • UPC: 606110152426
  • SRP: $39.99

Tasting Note

Some wines lead with fruit and obvious tones, the best are cozy and textural – this falls into the latter.  Hints of orchard fruit, warm bread, beeswax, ginger, rosemary and a squeeze of lemon quietly emerge, but they are secondary to the wine’s energy and svelte feel.  It gathers remarkable weight without ever feeling heavy, moving across the palate with a waxy, almost silken richness that is constantly lifted by vibrant freshness. A subtle savory, lingering umami note carry the finish long after the fruit has faded.  It is a wine that feels both grounded and electric.

Press & Reviews

Tim Atkin, MW

95

"Paper Kite is a head-turning Swartland blend of Semillon Gris and Semillon Blanc that are
picked on the same day. Fermented in 25% new 500-litre Austrian oak barrels, this has
jasmine and honeysuckle aromas, flavours of quince, lemongrass and Japanese green tea,
racy minerality and wonderful focus and palate length. 2026-29."

- Tim Atkin, MW

Vinous

93

"This has a potent and spicy nose that comes racing out of the blocks. The palate is medium-bodied with a waxy texture, fresh and vibrant, with a lovely umami sensation on the finish. Just a dab of Sichuan that leaves the tongue tingling. Lovely."

- Neal Martin

James Suckling

94

"I like the bread dough and rosemary focaccia aromas. Grapefruit, honey and peaches, too. It’s creamy, cool and complex with a tasty interplay of fruit and savory, leesy complexity. Medium-bodied, rich but very fresh. Drink or hold."
- Claire Nesbitt
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Producer


Thorne & Daughters

Region


Swartland

Country


South Africa

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