2024 Copper Pot Chardonnay, Thorne & Daughters

• Style: Cool-climate South African Chardonnay
• Taste: Honeysuckle, lemon zest, salted caramel, stone fruit
• Food: Grilled fish, creamy chicken, soft cheeses, smoked salmon
• Occasion: Weeknight dinner, Sunday lunch
• Serve: 13.5% ABV, drink now through 2028

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

This wine opens with honeysuckle, lemon zest and a touch of wood spice, then reveals its true character as it breathes: bright, high acidity cuts through the core, anchoring the salted caramel and stone fruit that follow. A thread of nuttiness hints at old oak influence, applied with restraint rather than domination. At 13.5% ABV, the balance between power and freshness remains the story—depth without heaviness.

The Winery — Thorne & Daughters

Founded in 2013 by John and Tasha Seccombe, Thorne & Daughters stands as a pioneer of South Africa's New Wave winemaking movement. The cellar draws fruit from a carefully built network of growers spanning Bot River, Stellenbosch, Voor Paardeberg, Swartland, Citrusdal, Franschhoek, and Overberg—selecting parcels through both longstanding friendships and thoughtful outreach. For the Copper Pot, the Chardonnay comes from cool-climate plots in Elgin, Ceres and the Overberg: the Elgin site is clay-rich and east-facing, its high altitude cooled by ocean breezes, while the west-facing Ceres and Overberg parcels sit on shale, with Ceres's marked day-to-night shift holding acidity and ripeness in step. The philosophy centres on minimal intervention: whole-bunch pressing, natural fermentation in old oak, and careful malolactic monitoring allow the vineyard and vintage to express themselves. The 2025 growing season delivered ripe, well-balanced fruit across a dry, largely disease-free Western Cape, and this Chardonnay captures that quality without excess alcohol or softness.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Grilled fish with brown butter, creamy chicken dishes, and soft cheeses are natural partners; the wine's backbone also carries smoked salmon and seafood with subtle spice. This is an ideal pour for Chardonnay lovers seeking subtlety and balance—whether you're settling in for a weeknight or gathering for Sunday lunch. Vegetarian and vegan-friendly. Drink now through 2028. If the Copper Pot resonates with your palate, you'll find further discovery awaits in the broader range of South African Overberg selections and the wider catalogue of New Wave producers reshaping Cape white wine.