Thistle & Weed new releases

Thistle and Weed, the collaboration between Etienne Terblanche (viticulturist) and Stephanie Wiid (winemaker), now have three single-origin examples of Chenin Blanc, Springdoring from Swartland grapes joining the established Duwweltjie and Brandnetel bottlings. Winemaking is basically the same throughout – spontaneous fermentation before maturation lasting 10 months in older oak – and while there is nothing between them in sheer quality terms, site makes for a markedly different sensory experience in each case. Tasting notes and ratings as follows:

Thistle & Weed Duwweltjie 2020
Price: R235
Grapes from a Paarl vineyard planted in 1961. Pear, white peach, dried herbs, and some leesy complexity on the nose. The palate has good weight with nicely integrated acidity – layers of flavour, the finish possessing that slight and not unpleasant bitterness that this variety often presents.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Thistle & Weed Brandnetel 2020
Price: R295
Grapes from the vineyard on the Simonsberg in Stellenbosch planted in 1980. Some flinty reduction before stone fruit, pineapple, and ginger. The palate has the most richness and weight of the trio – a dense core of fruit offset by fresh acidity before a saline finish.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

Thistle & Weed Springdoring 2020
Price: R295

Grapes from a Paardeberg vineyard planted in 1982. Lime, white peach, green apple, hay, and dried herbs on the nose. The most light-bodied and lean of the trio – pure fruit and zippy acidity before a pithy finish. Delicate and tightly wound.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

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