Thistle & Weed Duwweltjie Chenin Blanc 2018

Sticks in the memory.

What an asset South Africa’s old vines are proving to be! Grapes for Duwweltjie Chenin Blanc as made by Thistle & Weed, which is the collaboration between Etienne Terblanche (Vinpro’s viticulturist for the Coastal Region) and Stephanie Wiid (Fairview winemaker), come from a Paarl vineyard planted over 65 years ago and three vintages in, the resulting wine is really proving to be the business.

The newly released 2018 (matured for 10 months in older oak, alcohol: 13%) has an extraordinarily expressive nose – naartjie and orange, peach and apricot, some waxiness, some nuttiness and a touch of spice. The palate is super-concentrated and super-flavourful. Sweet upfront but suitably savoury on the finish, tangy acidity lending drive. It’s a dramatic wine, perhaps a touch more rustic than the sublime 2017, but quite delicious even so. Wine Cellar price: R205 a bottle.

Editor’s rating: 94/100.

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