{"product_id":"2024-thistle-weed-brandnetal-chenin-blanc","title":"2024 Thistle \u0026 Weed Brandnetal Chenin Blanc","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eStellenbosch-based Thistle \u0026amp; Weed is the project of viticulturist Etienne Terblanche and winemaker Stephanie Wiid, two friends who describe themselves as storytellers first and winemakers second. Stephanie spent a decade at Fairview before committing to this full-time, and together they've built a small, focused label around old vine sites and a hands-off approach that's earning serious attention internationally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eBrandnetal means stinging nettle in Afrikaans, a name chosen for the duality of the plant: fierce and sharp on contact, but also medicinal and restorative in the right hands. It's a fitting metaphor for the wine itself. The fruit comes from a 1980-planted block at Nietvoorbij in Stellenbosch, notable for containing over 33 different rootstocks - an old experimental plot from another era, now over 40 years old. The soils are Table Mountain sandstone and clay, and the site catches maritime influence that lends a characteristic salinity to the wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eIn the cellar the approach is deliberately minimal. Handpicked, whole-bunch pressed using free-run juice only, then naturally fermented in third-pass French oak. Nine months on gross lees with some stirring in the early months, minimal sulphur at bottling, nothing fined or filtered. The idea is to let the vineyard do the work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe result is a taut, mineral-driven Chenin with real texture and a saline, citrus-bright finish. Just 308 cases made and an absolute bargain for high quality Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Thistle \u0026 Weed","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45239968628779,"sku":"2024 Thistle \u0026 Weed Brandnetal Chenin Blanc","price":39.0,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/2572\/9722\/files\/2024Thistle_WeedBrandnetalCheninBlanc.png?v=1788754647","url":"https:\/\/www.differentdrop.com\/products\/2024-thistle-weed-brandnetal-chenin-blanc","provider":"Different Drop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}