John and Tasha Seccombe and Ex Animo Wine Co. are pleased to release the 2023 wines of Thorne & Daughters wines.
...masterful rendition of the Cape White that is Rocking Horse... a triumph being both multifaceted but also completely coherent...98 Points
― Christian Eedes, Winemag on Rocking Horse Cape White Blend
The 2023 vintage at Thorne & Daughters continues the pursuit of quality and exploration that John has cultivated ever since the first vintage in 2013. Each wine is distinct and express their origins and constituent parts with clarity and definition.
The original two wines of the range, the Rocking Horse Cape White Blend and the Tin Soldier Semillon Gris, have become Cape benchmarks of their individual styles.
The old vine pair of Paper Kite (Semillon) and Cat’s Cradle (Chenin Blanc) both come from Swartland and express their respective uniqueness and intensity beautifully.
The Snakes & Ladders is a beast. High altitude, low rainfall, bushvine Sauvignon Blanc from the Skurfberg.
We are releasing the 2022 vintage of John’s signature red, the Wanderer’s Heart. The decision was made last year to move the release of this wine 12 months after the whites. This is to give the wine time in bottle to develop and come together. Both John and Tasha, and us here at Ex Animo think the Wanderer’s Heart is a better wine with an extra year in bottle. From 2022, Syrah is increasing in prominence in the blend.
The 2023 vintage is a testament to John’s passion and dedication to making wines that tell a story, not wines that shout and bang a drum. This is supported by the scores on Winemag by Christian Eedes:
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za “A triumph being both multifaceted but also completely coherent. Flowers, pear, peach, citrus, apple, earth, spice and a hint of leesy complexity on the nose while the palate has it all: depth of fruit, texture, a lovely line of acidity and long, savoury finish. A wine of pin-point accuracy. 98/100.”
Old Vine Chenin Blanc – Swartland – 44 year old vineyard on decomposed granite & 42 years old on iron-rich sands
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za “Elusive aromatics of pear, peach, soft citrus and hay. The palate is nicely weighted – not as austere as some examples of the variety from the area. Fine and detailed – pure fruit, well-integrated acidity and a gently savoury finish. 96/100.”
Semillon Blanc and Gris – Swartland – 57 year old vineyard on alluvial granite soil
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za “Lime, lemon, apple, honeydew melon, hay, fynbos and a hint of struck-match reduction on the nose. The palate has great fruit concentration, lively acidity and a pithy finish. This release seems to have a particular polish about it. 95/100.”
Sauvignon Blanc – Olifantsrivier – decomposed Table Mountain sandstone soils over clay and alluvial deposits.
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za “A perfumed nose with notes of flowers, hay, white peach and a touch of blackcurrant. The palate is immensely powerful – full-bodied and thick textured while remaining just about fresh enough. 91/100.”
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za “50% fermented on the skins for approximately one week. Red apple, orange, potpourri, a hint of wax and spice on the nose. The palate has dense fruit and punchy acidity before a deeply savoury finish – perhaps a little more generous than previous vintages. 94/100.”
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za “All components other than Carignan fermented whole-bunch. Cherry, plum, maybe a touch of raisin, floral perfume, fynbos, earth and white pepper on the nose. The palate is broad – fruit to the fore, bright acidity and soft tannins. 90/100”
Thorne & Daughters | 2023 Vintage Release
THORNE & DAUGHTERS
New Release
...masterful rendition of the Cape White that is Rocking Horse... a triumph being both multifaceted but also completely coherent...98 Points
― Christian Eedes, Winemag on Rocking Horse Cape White Blend
The 2023 vintage at Thorne & Daughters continues the pursuit of quality and exploration that John has cultivated ever since the first vintage in 2013. Each wine is distinct and express their origins and constituent parts with clarity and definition.
The original two wines of the range, the Rocking Horse Cape White Blend and the Tin Soldier Semillon Gris, have become Cape benchmarks of their individual styles.
The old vine pair of Paper Kite (Semillon) and Cat’s Cradle (Chenin Blanc) both come from Swartland and express their respective uniqueness and intensity beautifully.
The Snakes & Ladders is a beast. High altitude, low rainfall, bushvine Sauvignon Blanc from the Skurfberg.
We are releasing the 2022 vintage of John’s signature red, the Wanderer’s Heart. The decision was made last year to move the release of this wine 12 months after the whites. This is to give the wine time in bottle to develop and come together. Both John and Tasha, and us here at Ex Animo think the Wanderer’s Heart is a better wine with an extra year in bottle. From 2022, Syrah is increasing in prominence in the blend.
The 2023 vintage is a testament to John’s passion and dedication to making wines that tell a story, not wines that shout and bang a drum. This is supported by the scores on Winemag by Christian Eedes:
Rocking Horse Cape White Blend 2023 – 98 pt
Cat’s Cradle Chenin Blanc 2023 – 96 pt
Paper Kite Semillon 2023 – 95 pt
Snakes & Ladders Saiuvignon Blanc 2023 – 91 pt
Tin Soldier Semillon 2023 – 94 pt
Wanderer’s Heart Syrah Blend 2022 – 90 pt
The Wines
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Thorne & Daughters Mixed 6 pack
R325.00Add to basket
Rocking Horse Cape White Blend 2023
30% Roussanne – Stellenbosch / Paardeberg – decomposed granite / clay
28% Chenin Blanc – Paardeberg – decomposed granite and Malmesbury – iron-rich soils
20% Chardonnay – Ceres Plateau – sandstone over clay
15% Semillon blanc – Swartland – alluvial soils
7% Clairette blanche – Worcester – alluvial soils>
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za
“A triumph being both multifaceted but also completely coherent. Flowers, pear, peach, citrus, apple, earth, spice and a hint of leesy complexity on the nose while the palate has it all: depth of fruit, texture, a lovely line of acidity and long, savoury finish. A wine of pin-point accuracy. 98/100.”
R400.00Add to basket
Cat's Cradle Chenin Blanc 2023
Old Vine Chenin Blanc – Swartland – 44 year old vineyard on decomposed granite & 42 years old on iron-rich sands
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za
“Elusive aromatics of pear, peach, soft citrus and hay. The palate is nicely weighted – not as austere as some examples of the variety from the area. Fine and detailed – pure fruit, well-integrated acidity and a gently savoury finish. 96/100.”
R400.00Add to basket
Paper Kite Old Vine Semillon 2023
Semillon Blanc and Gris – Swartland – 57 year old vineyard on alluvial granite soil
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za
“Lime, lemon, apple, honeydew melon, hay, fynbos and a hint of struck-match reduction on the nose. The palate has great fruit concentration, lively acidity and a pithy finish. This release seems to have a particular polish about it. 95/100.”
R400.00Add to basket
Snakes and Ladders Sauvignon Blanc 2023
Sauvignon Blanc – Olifantsrivier – decomposed Table Mountain sandstone soils over clay and alluvial deposits.
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za
“A perfumed nose with notes of flowers, hay, white peach and a touch of blackcurrant. The palate is immensely powerful – full-bodied and thick textured while remaining just about fresh enough. 91/100.”
R400.00Add to basket
Tin Soldier Semillon 2023
100% Semillon Gris – Swartland – granite sands
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za
“50% fermented on the skins for approximately one week. Red apple, orange, potpourri, a hint of wax and spice on the nose. The palate has dense fruit and punchy acidity before a deeply savoury finish – perhaps a little more generous than previous vintages. 94/100.”
R305.00Add to basket
Wanderer's Heart Red Blend 2022
45% Syrah – Breedekloof and Bot River – shale soils
33% Grenache Noir – Breedekloof – shale soils
13% Carignan – Breedekloof – shale soils
9% Mourvèdre – 9% Bot River – gravel/clay duplex soil
Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za
“All components other than Carignan fermented whole-bunch. Cherry, plum, maybe a touch of raisin, floral perfume, fynbos, earth and white pepper on the nose. The palate is broad – fruit to the fore, bright acidity and soft tannins. 90/100”
View Thorne & Daughters range in the shop