Thistle & Weed - Springdoring Swartland Chenin Blanc 2021

Thistle and Weed is a collaboration between the Terblanche and Wiid families established in 2015, led by Etienne Terblanche (Viticulturist) and Stephanie Wiid (Winemaker). This bush vine chenin was planted in 1982 in the Joubertskloof on the Paardeberg Mountain, rooted in pure granite soils at 300m. It was whole bunch pressed and native fermented in older French barrels, with bâtonnage over the first month, and then left undisturbed for 9 months prior to bottling unfiltered. There's a noticeable Swartland density here, with ripe pear, green fig, subtle quince bedded on a downy, flaxen lees base, sharpened with crystalline white grapefruit. The finish lingers long with a buzzy and saline granitic hum. Powerful and understated at once, this is showing beauty. Springdoring is a grippy hitchhiker, quick to latch on, and slow to let go. Much like the memory of this wine. 150 cases. (gismonionwine.com)