By Thorne and Daughters
2021 Old Vine Chenin Blanc 'Cat's Cradle'

Vineyard Notes
Swartland Chenin Blanc needs no introduction, having long assumed its place among the world's key expressions of Chenin Blanc. Langkloof, where John sources the grapes for this wine, is an old bush vine Chenin Blanc vineyard planted on the granite slopes of Paardeberg that belong to the Rossouw family. The vineyard is situated between parcels owned by Eben Sadie and Chris Alheit, which says something about its aptitude for greatness. John has worked with this vineyard for a few years but never had enough fruit to bottle a varietal Chenin Blanc until 2017, making 2021 the 5th vintage of this cuvee.

Vineyard Details
Grapes: 100% Chenin Blanc
Vineyard: Two blocks of the Langkloof Vineyard, farmed by Scholts Roussouw (Aprilskloof, Paardeberg)
Vine Age: 42 years old
Soil: Weathered schist with sandy loam
Viticulture: Sustainable, dry-farmed

Vinification Notes
As with all of the wines, the winemaking is pretty simple. Hand-picked whole bunches are basket-pressed directly into old French barrels (larger ones, in this case) with the gross lees. No sulfur addition. Fermentation kicks off naturally, with malolactic following right after. A tiny hit of sulfur is added in the winter for light protection, and then the wine is aged for nine months. After this maturation, the barrels are racked into a tank, where the wine settles naturally and is bottled using crossflow filtration and just a small sulfur addition. No fining.

Vinification Details
Fermentation: Native, whole-bunch pressed to two old French demi-muids
Skin Contact: None
Aging: Nine months in neutral 228-liter French oak barrels

Technical Details
Alcohol: 12.00%
pH: 3.22
Total Acidity: 7.00 g/L
Total SO2: 64 ppm

Tasting Notes
The wine shows aromas of lemon balm, apple blossom, exotic waxes, and honey. A textured palate is lifted by bright acidity and a wet stone freshness with a long finish.
[Information provided by Vine Street Imports]

Thorne and Daughters, Cat's Cradle Chenin Blanc, Swartland, South Africa 2021
Tasted by: Greg Sherwood MW, Beverley Blanning MW, Roger Jones (at Decanter Tasting Suite, London, 21 Jan 2023)
Part of: South African Chenin Blanc: panel tasting results
Points: 95
Drinking Window: 2023 - 2030
Producer: Thorne and Daughters
Brand: Cat's Cradle Chenin Blanc
Vintage: 2021
Wine Type: Still
Colour: White
Country: South Africa
Region: Swartland
Sweetness: Dry
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 12.00%
Body: Medium
Grapes: 100% Chenin Blanc
Grapes for Cat's Cradle come from an old bush vineyard in Langkloof on the granitic soils of the Paardeberg mountains. The 2021 vintage provided much-needed rain during the winter after five years of drought. The wine is made with as little intervention as possible, whole-bunch pressed into old oak barrels where it sits for fermentation, malolactic and maturation. Minimal SO2 is used throughout the process. Greg Sherwood MW: A savoury 'Marmite' expression, earthy yellow fruits, musky undertones, hints of chalk dust and a vibrant palate of sweet and sour fruits. Punchy and persistent. Beverley Blanning MW: Mineral nose. Floats across the tongue, but its flavours are stern and mineral. Not a hint of sweetness here. Gorgeous saline finish with mineral bite. Roger Jones: Juicy and fruit-led with darkness in the background. Sultanas and baked apples with a fresh splash of apple dust vibrancy. Gripping and fresh.

2021 Cat's Cradle
Producer: Thorne and Daughters
Place of Origin: South Africa, Swartland
Color: White
Grape/Blend: Chenin Blanc
Rating: 93
Drinking Window: 2023 - 2038
From: Growing Up 'n Getting Wiser: South Africa in 2022 (Sep 2022)
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.
By: Neal Martin on August 2022

Thorne and Daughters, Cat's Cradle Chenin Blanc 2021 Swartland
Producer: Thorne and Daughters
Cuvee: Cat's Cradle
Grape variety: Chenin Blanc
Appellation: Swartland
Region: Coastal Region
Country: South Africa
Colour: White
Score: 17/20
When to drink: 2022 - 2032
Published on: 14 Jul 2022
Date tasted: 13 Jun 2022
Reviewer: Jancis Robinson
Rich nose and lots of freshness. Salty and understated. Real undertow. Great balance.