Thorne & Daughters Cat's Cradle Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2024

Swartland Chenin blanc needs no introduction, having long assumed its place among the world’s key expressions of the grape variety. Here we have put together a collection of old vine vineyards from the Swartland where predominantly granite-derived soils give us a clear and pristine expression of Chenin blanc. Granite gives us clarity and the more iron-rich soils give us waxy, yellow fruit and generosity.

An enormous amount of work goes into the vineyard during the growing season to ensure that the vines can carry a healthy and balanced crop. Picking is done with a clear eye on the acidity of the crop which can fall away dramatically during the harvest due to the paucity of the granite based soils.

The 2024 wines are rich and expressive, with aromas of apple tarte tatin, barley sugar, and frangipane florals. A rich, beeswaxy palate is full of salty almonds, light honey, ripe yellow fruits and elderf lower. The finish is long, textured and full. This is a wine that will reward some time in the cellar to allow its full aromatic expression to develop.