Thorne
& Daughters
Tin Soldier
2018
100% sémillon gris from a six-year-old vineyard,
established from cuttings taken from an adjacent vineyard of sémillon, which
was planted in 1964. 70% of the fruit was skin fermented for 10 days and 30%
was whole-bunch pressed. Interestingly, all of the names in the Thorne & Daughters range come from
archetypal children’s toys. The Tin Soldier is a reference to sémillon’s status
as the old foot soldier of the South African wine industry. Heady jasmine tea
and rose petal freshness abound on the perfumed nose; this floral cascade is
underscored by chalky, saline oyster shell and subtle dried thyme. Ripe dessert peaches, tart apricot and
crunchy red apple evolve on the palate. Offering fine-boned structure and
phenolic grip, it lies on the palate like a red wine with some textural grape
tannin from the skin contact, while a pithy, tingling acidity leads to a
honeyed finish.
