Thorne & Daughters Paper Kite Semillon 2023

One of the key heritage varietals in South Africa is Semillon, a grape variety that the modern wine industry was practically built on, but which now finds itself as a small presence in the viticultural landscape here. There are still a number of incredible, old Semillon vineyards in existence and we have been fortunate enough to work with some of them.

Nuts and bolts
Semillon blanc and gris – Swartland 60 year old vineyard on alluvial, granite soil

Platter’s: ***** 96/100
From vines planted 1963, quintessential expression of Swartland semillon. 2023 showcases purity, substance, precision & depth variety delivers in hands of a master, more so than in 2022 (4.5 stars, 94 pts). Lemon-grass, -verbena & -thyme nuances, savoury, salted apple finish. Barrel ferment, majority 2nd-fill 500L Austrian, rest older French.

Tim Atkin: 95/100

Christian Eedes, WineMag.co.za, 93/100

Perswijn 16/20
Geur: peer, appel, bloemen, perzik, open
Smaak: subtiel, jeugdig, mooie zuren, lengte

About the wine
Paper Kite is our expression of old vine South African Semillon, and it is sourced from a 60 year-old vineyard in Swartland. These old clones of Semillon (including a tiny amount of Semillon gris dotted about the vineyards) deliver an expression of Semillon that is very much at odds with the modern, aromatic clones. The wines they produce are hauntingly beautiful and difficult to define.

The wine is rich, textured and complex, shows wonderful spice, floral and savoury tones, oat biscuits, sweet almond and green figs. The length of the wine is testament to the great age of the vines.