A whopping 96 points from Tim Atkins - "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. We couldn't agree more!
While a brandnetel (stinging nettle) may not sound particularly appealing, this wine certainly is. 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.
Crafted in exactly the same way as Duwweltjie, Brandnetel 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
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.
The Details:
Size: Case of 3
Country: South Africa
Region: Stellenbosch
Style: Aromatic, moreish, honeyed
Grape: Chenin Blanc
Abv: 13.5%
Producer:
Thistle and Weed is a collaboration between the Terblanche and Wiid families established in 2015, led by Etienne Terblanche (Viticulturist) and Stephanie Wiid (Winemaker). Inspired by the encroaching weeds found amongst the vines grown in the Cape, Etienne and Steph draw parallels between thistles and weeds and the uncompromising tenacity and survival skills of grapevines. Each wine is dedicated to one of their favorite nuisances, using the colloquial Afrikaans term for each, reminding the drinker that these wines are unapologetically Kaaps (Cape Wines). Together, Etienne and Steph set out to discover the best of the Cape’s hidden gems, intent on crafting honest wines that are made with a deep connection to nature and offer the most simple expression of the terroir from which they come.
