2023 Rocking Horse, Cape White, Thorne & Daughters - 'highly recommended'
John Seccombe combines these varieties with absolute precision—tensile right through to the finish.
Neal Martin, vinous.com, September 2024
2023 Rocking Horse, Cape White, Thorne & Daughters
£100 per 6 bottle case in bond
I’ve long been a fan of Roussanne, and I’ve always been drawn to blends. This particular wine came to me by chance, and tasting it this weekend was a revelation: beautifully made, affordable, and unquestionably age worthy.
The wine hails from Thorne & Daughters, a celebrated South African producer founded in 2012 by John and Tasha Seccombe. Known for expressive, minimal intervention wines, they draw on old vine parcels and the Western Cape’s rich winemaking heritage to craft modern, textural blends. Their range—Rocking Horse, Paper Kite, Cat’s Cradle and others—captures the Cape’s sunshine, maritime freshness, and diverse terroirs, placing them firmly among the leading voices in South Africa’s New Wave.
The world may be fixated on varietal labelling, but blends give winemakers the freedom to fine tune a wine – adding richness here, a touch of vibrancy there. Unsurprisingly, some great examples come from South Africa, where producers are free to embrace a non varietal approach, perhaps because they’re not bound by the weight of long standing traditions.
Its complexity is no accident – this is a blend with real intent:
- 30% Roussanne (Stellenbosch/Paardeberg), from 14 year old vines on decomposed granite and clay
- 28% Chenin Blanc (Paardeberg), from 44 year old vines on decomposed granite and 40 year old vines on iron rich Malmesbury soils
- 20% Chardonnay (Ceres Plateau), from 10 year old vines grown on sandstone over clay
- 15% Semillon (Swartland), from 60 and 14 year old vines on alluvial soils
- 7% Clairette Blanche (Worcester), from 45 year old vines on alluvial soils
This is an exceptionally smart buy – great value, character in abundance, and a style I can easily imagine becoming a favourite among Atlas clients.
2023 Rocking Horse, Cape White, Thorne & Daughters
£100 per 6 bottle case in bond
94 points, Neal Martin, vinous.com, September 2024
The 2023 Rocking Horse Cape White comes from several parcels, led by 30% Roussanne and 28% Chenin Blanc. Nuanced on the nose, it takes time to unfurl: yellow fruit, Riesling like petrol notes, and crushed chalk. The palate is beautifully balanced with crisp acidity and impressive weight. John Seccombe combines these varieties with absolute precision—tensile right through to the finish. A step up from the 2022 and highly recommended. Drink 2025–2038
Please let us know of your interest.
Simon
simon.larkin@atlasfinewines.com