|
|
|
2021 `Rocking Horse` Cape White Blend
35% Semillon, 28% Roussanne, 16% Chardonnay, 15%Chenin Blanc, 6% Clairette Blanche
£105.00 per 6 Bot Case, in bond
£142.07 Duty & VAT paid
Rocking Horse showcases John Seccombe's skills as a blender, combining Roussanne with 68% Semillon, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Clairette Blanche from the Ceres Plateau, Franschhoek, Stellenbosch, the Swartland and the Voor Paardeberg. Nutmeg, fennel and candle wax aromas segue into a palate of pear, lemon and lime, with a hint of stone fruit sweetness and a chiselled finish. 2023-2029
96 points Tim Atkin MW
The 2021 Rocking Horse is Semillon and Roussanne dominated, a vineyard selection, malo in neutral barrels. Fragrant on the nose with white flowers and honeysuckle scents, this is beautifully-defined. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, linear and taut with a touch of pithiness on the complex finish. Superb. 2023-2033
93 points Neal Martin, Vinous
Fabulously complex and thought provoking on the nose and equally stimulating on the palate, with lots of apple strudel flavours, extending to the long finish. Now-2031+
Simon Quinn, VinQuinn
|
|
|
2021 `Tin Soldier` Swartland Semillon Gris
£119.00 per 6 Bot Case, in bond
£158.87 Duty & VAT paid
Tin Soldier is sourced from the Kweperfontein farm on the Paardeberg. Half of the wine is fermented on skins for seven days, giving it appealing structure and density. Quince, toast and a subtle black tea bitterness are complemented by minerality and a twist of orange zest. 2022-2026
94 points Tim Atkin MW
The 2021 Tin Soldier is 100% Semillon Gris, a selection massal from Paper Kite Vineyard, 50% fermented on the skin. Yellow plum, peach skin and candle wax on the pithy nose, this is nicely defined. The palate is medium-bodied with a lightly spiced entry, stone fruit and hints of apricot lead to a neutral finish. Lovely.
2022-2030
91 points Neal Martin, Vinous
|
|
|
|
2021 `Cat's Cradle` Swartland Chenin Blanc
£119.00 per 6 Bot Case, in bond
£158.87 Duty & VAT paid
"Very poor soils" is how John Seccombe describes this 1979 dry land vineyard on the Paardeberg. "You can't push it." His bony, chiselled Chenin Blanc flirts with austerity, but has wonderful freshness, precision and mouth-watering acidity. Spicy, earthy and pithy, with citrus, fennel and nutmeg flavours. 2023-2030
95 points Tim Atkin MW
The 2021 Cat's Cradle comes from a vineyard between parcels owned by Eben Sadie and Chris Alheit - old vine Chenin planted in 1979 on granite soils. It has an open, melted wax and broom scented nose, lemon curd and light custard-like aromas. The palate is very well balanced with a superb line of acidity, fresh and tensile with a tang of sour lemon on the finish. So much character here. Excellent.2023-2038
93 points Neal Martin, Vinous
The nose is delicate, with a refined beeswax aroma. The palate is crunchy and serious, tasting of apple, lemon and a hint of marzipan. Plenty of impact and tension to this. Now-2033+
Simon Quinn, VinQuinn
|
|
|
2020 `Paper Kite` Old Vine Semillon
£130.00 per 6 Bot Case, in bond
£172.07 Duty & VAT paid
Now made with Swartland fruit - it was from Franschhoek initially - this wonderful old-vine Semillon continues to deliver in spades. Subtly reductive and stony with some tannic grip from thicker skins in a drought year, apple, straw and citrus fruit characters and a mouthwatering, low-alcohol finish. 2021-2026
95 points Tim Atkin MW
The 2020 Paper Kite is pure Sémillon pressed in an old basket press. The tightly knit bouquet features grilled walnuts and hazelnuts, almond, a light fumé note and touches of orange peel. The harmonious palate is well balanced with fine delineation and good weight, and the nutty/smoky theme continues through to the aftertaste. Very fine, but personally I would give this a couple of years in bottle. 2023-2040
93 points Neal Martin, Vinous
|
|
|
|
2020 `Snakes & Ladders` Sauvignon Blanc
£130.00 per 6 Bot Case, in bond
£172.07 Duty & VAT paid
Basie van Lill's low-yielding one-hectare block on Citrusdal Mountain has done it again, producing a wonderful follow up to the maiden release. "I wanted to get away from the variety" says John Seccombe and he's succeeded thanks to talent, natural fermentation and incredible grapes. Concentrated yet focused, this is like a cross between a Xarel-lo and a Furmint. 2021-2024
95 points Tim Atkin MW
The 2020 Snakes & Ladders is pure Sauvignon Blanc, whole-bunch-pressed and matured in used oak barrels. It offers an enticing, quite pithy bouquet of mirabelle, jasmine and wax resin scents. The palate is well balanced with a slightly viscous texture that is effortlessly countered by both the razor-sharp acidity and the intrinsic spiciness. White pepper and stem ginger furnish the finish, which lingers in the mouth. A superb Sauvignon Blanc from winemaker John Seccombe. 2021-2032
92 points Neal Martin, Vinous
|
|
|
2020 `Wanderer's Heart` Cape Red Blend
41% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah, 29% Mourvèdre
£98.00 per 6 Bot Case, in bond
£133.67 Duty & VAT paid
Featuring the highest-ever amount of Mourvèdre (29%), this is a Grenache-based red with Syrah providing the third component. Sourced from across the Western Cape, it's fresh and sappy, with lots of whole bunch spices, fresh acidity, some meaty undertones and a tangy plum and red berry core. 2021-27
93 points Tim Atkin MW
The 2020 Wanderer's Heart is a blend of 41% Grenache Noir, 30% Syrah and 29% Mourvedre. It's a little closed on the nose but opens with aeration, offering red berry fruit intermixed with white pepper, clove and wild fennel. The palate is full of crunchy red fruit, superb acidity and tension and reveals a touch of curry leaf on the finish. Yet another great 2020 from Jon Seccombe. 2023-2036
94 points Neal Martin, Vinous
|
|
|
Thorne & Daughters was started in 2013 by John and Tasha Seccombe with the aim of producing authentic wines from the Western Cape. It is widely acknowledged to be one of the forerunners of the ‘New Wave’ wine movement in South Africa. Thorne & Daughters is mainly focused on producing Cape white blends, from 15 different growers in Bot River, Stellenbosch, Voor Paardeberg, Swartland, Citrusdal, Franschhoek and Overberg. Fruit sourcing has relied on a network of close winemaking friends and knocking on doors to gather the various parcels with which they work. John and Tasha did not want to be limited geographically, so the net was cast wide and has been driven by “a happy synergy of people, place, soil and vines”.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|