Thorne & Daughters’ Rocking Horse 2023 offers immense value, especially considering the price of other signature blends. The wine is a multi-variety blend produced from heritage vineyards and takes its aesthetic from white Burgundy rather than the Rhône. Continuing its stellar performance for more than a decade now, the latest Rocking Horse release is ‘a wine of pin-point accuracy’, according to Christian Eedes. The 98-point 2023 is a ‘triumph’ of concentrated fruit balanced by delicate florals, with a detailed palate and a long, savoury finish.
The Hereafter Here 2023 has some old vine fruit included this year and is more savoury; we recommend giving it a year to settle. We’re also seeing the return of the Magnetic North for the first time since 2020 – a wonderful wine with loads of power. The Cartology 2023 shines with the addition of high quality La Colline Semillon and a higher portion of Nautical Dawn fruit in the blend. It’s steadily cementing its status as one of our most important wines.
Due to rain and disease pressure, Nautical Dawn volumes were drastically reduced to ensure that the bottled wine was of the highest quality. The 2023 is full fruited with yellow peach, fine acidity and good length. From Chris and Suzaan’s farm in the Swartland comes the Fire by Night – a linear, visceral wine with a driving backbone of acidity that impresses with it long, lingering finish. Almost Burgundian, it’s reminiscent of the 2019 Broom Ridge release.
Huilkrans 2023 is worthy of its standing as one of the greats! And finally, the Hemelrand Vine Garden 2023 has a distinct botrytis character that makes it a stunning cheese wine. It’s an outlier and well worth getting your hands on.
Many of these wines are super limited and sold on allocation only. Email lauren@winecellar.co.za to request an allocation.
The 2023 Tin Soldier is a 50/50 blend of Sémillon Blanc and Gris. Showing reined-in orange wine characteristics, this graceful release offers peach skin, freshness, and a hint of tannic bite.
In 2023, the Cat’s Cradle is pure and aromatic with great precision and texture. ‘Fine and detailed’, says Christian, this old-vine Chenin is always the most limited of the set.
Sémillon has become one of SA’s calling cards, and the 95-point Paper Kite 2023 is a classic expression of the variety. From a 60-year-old vineyard, expect notes of soft citrus, thatch, spice and vibrant, delineated fruit.
The unique Snakes and Ladders is a favourite at Wine Cellar and the 2023 is superb. Powerful and poised, the wine’s firm palate speaks clearly of its origin in the Citrusdal Mountains.
These thrilling releases are full of character!
Tasting Notes:
Thorne & Daughters, Rocking Horse Cape White 2023
‘30% Roussanne, 28% Chenin Blanc, 20% Chardonnay, 15% Semillon and 7% Clairette Blanc sourced from across the Western Cape. 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. Alc: 13.63%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 98/100
Thorne and Daughters, Tin Soldier Sémillon 2023
‘From Swartland Semillon Gris, 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. Alc: 13.1%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 94/100
Thorne and Daughters, Cat’s Cradle Chenin Blanc 2023
‘Grapes predominantly from the Paardeberg. 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.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 96/100
Thorne and Daughters, Paper Kite Old Vine Sémillon 2023
‘Grapes from a 1963 Swartland vineyard. 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.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 95/100
Thorne and Daughters, Snakes and Ladders 2023
‘Grapes from Citrusdal Mountain. 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. Alc: 14.6%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 91/100
Thorne and Daughters, Wanderer’s Heart 2022
‘45% Syrah, 33% Grenache, 13% Carignan and 9% Mourvèdre sourced from across the Westen Cape. 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. Alc: 13.39%.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 90/100
