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Thistle & Weed

2022

‘Brandnetel’

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

About

The brandnetel (Urtica dioica ) – or stinging nettle – is steeped in dualities: both fierce and soft; painful and restorative; tenacious yet humble. This often-overlooked weed brings magic to fairytales, protection in folklore and vitality to soils. Inspired by these dualities, this unique wine, made from Chenin Blanc vines perched on the slopes overlooking Stellenbosch, serves as a reminder that magic is woven into every life from the soil to the glass. The vineyard was planted in 1980 and is a living library of historical rootstocks with over 33 different rootstocks in this old experimental plot.

The grapes were handpicked, delicately whole-bunch pressed and naturally fermented. Only the free run juice was fermented in third-pass French oak barrels. The lees was stirred for the first month, after which the wine was allowed to mature on the lees for 9 months prior to bottling, unfined, with just a gentle sheet filtration and small dosage of sulfur.

Stats

  • Grapes: 100% Chenin Blanc
  • Vineyard: Brandnetel Vineyard (Nietvoobij, Stellenbosch)
  • Vine Age: 43-years-old
  • Soil Type: Table Mountain sandstone and clay
  • Viticulture: Conventional
  • Fermentation: Native – old 225L oak barrels (100% whole-bunch pressed)
  • Skin Contact: None
  • Aging: 9 months on gross lees in old French 225L oak
  • Alcohol: 13.5%
  • pH: 3.48
  • Total Acidity: 5.2 g/L
  • Total SO2: 110 ppm
  • Total Production: 150 cases
  • UPC: 606110392419

Tasting Note

Brimming with delicate notes of quince, white peach and blood orange, the palate pulls through with quintessential Chenin blanc star power, including a rich and more-ish palate and lemon-zip acidity. It offers a wonderfully palatable lesson in appreciating differing terroir, bringing forward a more linear expression that ends with a slight saltiness achieved from the mineral-rich soils.

 

Press & Reviews

The WineMag

93

"From a Stellenbosch planted in 1980 with 32 different rootstocks for trial purposes. Exotic aromatics of peach, melon and pineapple. The palate has weight and depth – dense fruit, bright acidity and a gently savoury finish."

- Christian Eedes

Tim Atkin, MW

96

"My favourite of the superb trio of terroir-specific Chenin Blancs, Brandnetel hails from a 0.3-hectrare parcel that was planted on the Simonsberg as a rootstock trial block in 1980. Compact, concentrated, leesy and layered, it has layers of spices and lemon butter, racy acidity and a long, almost salty finish. Up there with the best of the Cape. 2024-30"

- Tim Atkin, MW
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Producer


Thistle & Weed

Region


Stellenbosch

Country


South Africa

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