Thorne & Daughters Snakes & Ladders Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2021
The Thorne & Daughters Snakes and Ladders name takes its inspiration from the wild nature of the elevated, bushvine vineyards high up in the mountains, along with the highs and lows of farming these incredible parcels in such a challenging climate. The Sauvignon Blanc grapes are sourced from the Citrusdal Mountain district from a vineyard high up on the slopes of the Skurfberg mountain. This remote area, more known for rooibos tea and sheep farming, has a few isolated parcels of grapes. The dry-farmed, 35-year-old bush vines are planted on deep red sandy soils over clay. The old bush vines are low yielding and produce incredibly concentrated grapes which are harvested by hand. Upon arrival at the winery, the Sauvignon Blanc grapes were whole bunch pressed in an old Vaslin press. This ensured an oxidative and very gentle pressing - yielding a very clear juice. The juice was left to settle overnight and was then racked into old, 225 and 600-litre French oak barrels for fermentation with natural yeasts. After fermentation, the wine underwent spontaneous malolactic fermentation and was aged in barrel on its lees for around 10 months. No sulphur additions were made until August following the vintage once the wine had had time to settle. The final blend was assembled in November and was bottled at the end of December. An atypical South African Sauvignon Blanc which does away with overbearing primary fruit. The nose boasts aromas of blackberry leaf, wild grass and herbal nuances along with honey melon, ripe citrus and a flinty, earthy smokiness. The palate is bold with a voluptuous structure balanced by a bracing acidity that carries the flavours onto the lasting finish.
