Description
The 2022 vintage opens with vibrant citrus aromas, layered with dried orange peel and orange blossom, and subtle hints of fresh ginger, vanilla pod, and white pepper. A maritime influence imparts flinty minerality and a touch of crushed stone. Nuances of foie gras and salted caramel add depth to the palate. Thoughtful use of French oak enhances texture and complexity, with vibrant acidity providing balance. This wine seamlessly blends old-world elegance with new-world precision, showcasing the essence of its terroir.
Producer Profile
Under the towering Klein River mountains, Thamnus Wines is a unique terroir with few surrounding vineyards. The cool-climate conditions and old soils produce an elegant, more old-world style of wine, expressed well in the Burgundian grape varieties. Our Chardonnay is chiselled in style with lime, almond and flinty notes. The Pinot Noir is generally lighter in colour, but shows darker fruit, firm tannins and more savoury notes. Both wines offer 5 years or more of ageing potential.
Multiple clones of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay across 10 ha of vineyards are naturally farmed, vine by vine. We utilize our sheep in the vineyards during certain periods of the season as part of a regenerative agriculture approach; our sheep are rotated throughout the vineyard, grazing and suppressing weeds and allowing cover crops, later the vineyards, to proliferate. We also offer incredible free-range, naturally farmed lamb, fine olive oil and fynbos honey.
Reviews
Greg Sherwood 95
Aged in a mix of old and new French oak with fruit from a warmer year. The 2022 is more reserved and mineral, classical and restrained, showing hints of spicy lemon, white pepper, pithy lime peel and yellow grapefruit. Incredibly sleek and refined, mineral laden, pure and compact. Currently showing lovely youthful wound spring tension but also great cellaring potential. Ironically, I d probably pick this wine as a 2021 if tasted blind. [Greg Sherwood MW, 14/02/2025]
Tim Atkin 95
The Thamnus Chardonnay was one of the discoveries of my 2023 report, so I’m delighted that it’s every bit as good this year. Sourced from a single vineyard on Shaw’s Mountain, it’s light on its feet yet very well structured, with stylish 38% new wood, effortless minerality and a medley of citrus, pear, vanilla and clementine. 2025-29 [Tim Atkin MW, 31/03/2024]
