Graham and Lynette Williams formed their wine company in 2013, and their maiden wine (one 50-litre barrel) was made the year after, in their garage. After ‘seven years of refining and improving’, they moved production to facilities at Riebeek Valley Wine Co, in the heart of the Swartland (from where many of their grapes come). Graham is the ‘self-taught winemaker’, with Lynette ‘running everything else’. As to an ethos: ‘above all else we make wines that, frankly, we really like to drink’, they say.
Thorngrove Wines range
Category: Chardonnay wooded
Lemon notes & oatmeal reflecting ferment in new oak (then 6 months in 33% new), which is well integrated. 2021 lightish in feel & texture, with a balanced grip & beautifully dry finish. Good Swartland chardonnay something of a rarity. More
Wine tasted by Tim James & Angela Lloyd.
Thorngrove Wines range
Category: Tempranillo/tinta roriz
From old-vine tempranillo, one third new wood. Spicy (French) oak shows on 2020, with smoky, meaty notes. Savoury succulence on palate, based on sweet fruit, but a good dry grippiness on the finish. The (American) oak better integrated on 2021 (88 pts), where the deeper, red-fruit notes mingle well with the smoky element & balance the tannin & vibrant acidity - the aromas a touch volatile. 13.6% alc. More
Wine tasted by Tim James & Angela Lloyd.
Thorngrove Wines range
Category: Red blends, other
Grenache & shiraz with mourvèdre & cinsaut, co-fermented, as all the blends. Pair tasted, showing similar vintage pattern to other wines. 2020 bigger, sweeter, more powerful (14.7%), with decent savoury structure. 2021 (4.5 stars, 90 pts), pre-bottling, also ripe & rich (14.3% alc) but more vibrant, with pure, full & perfumed red & darker berry notes. Well reflects blend & warm-country origin. Oak well integrated. More
Wine tasted by Tim James & Angela Lloyd.
Thorngrove Wines range
Category: Shiraz/syrah
4 vintages tasted, varying origins & alc levels, all one-third new oak. 2021 (4 stars, 88 pts) finest of the bunch, freshest, best focused. Clean, ripely aromatic berry notes; big & bold (14.4% alc) but balanced, with juicy tannins. Ex Swartland, like 2020 (4 stars, 86 pts), which shows more oak & sweetness (an effect of 15.1% alc), firm tannins hold it together. Lighter 2019 (3.5 stars, 84 pts) from Breedekloof, pleasant, sweet-fruited but lacking dimension. Yet unreleased, like 2018 ex Wellington, rather vapid & short; modest structure. More
Wine tasted by Tim James & Angela Lloyd.
Thorngrove Wines range
Category: Red blends, Cape Bordeaux
Merlot blend with cab & cab franc. In notably ripe house style, 2020 rich, full, flavoursome, showy & powerful, a sweet touch underlined by 15% alc, but restrained by firm tannins. 2021 (4 stars, 87 pts) preview fresher & livelier, showing denser fruit flavours & a firmer, more integrated structure. More
Wine tasted by Tim James & Angela Lloyd.
Thorngrove Wines range
Category: Nebbiolo
From Rawsonville nebbiolo - rare in SA - free-run juice only for delicacy. 2021 pleasantly unimposing, with varietal floral & tar notes; fruity rather than savoury, well-balanced acidity & approachable tannins. More
Wine tasted by Tim James & Angela Lloyd.
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