Thistle & Weed | Nastergal | 2021
Thistle & Weed | Nastergal | 2021
Something very, very different from the Western Cape but once you’ve tasted it I think you’ll agree there will be more like it in years to come! The 2021 vintage has a further blend evolution from the 2020, still with a base of Tempranillo (36%) from Wellington with Alicante Bouschet (24%), Touriga Nacional (18%), and now Pontac (8%), Souzao (7%) and Touriga Franca (7%), all from the foothills of Stellenbosch. Obviously there is a lot going on in this wine but fresh, juicy red and black fruits balance brilliantly with the solid tannin structure. The name, Nastergal (or Nightshade in English) is in reference to the intensely deep dark colour of the wine which comes very much from the Alicante Bouschet. 14% Alcohol.
Nose & palate
Inky black with aromas of blackberry and blueberries coexisting with intense spices (including cinnamon), and black pepper on the nose. The palate is more-ish, brimming with berry flavours and robust tannins.
Pairing
Perfect for pizza night!
Accolades
92 Points - Wine Magazine
About Thistle & Weed
An independent collaboration between winemaker Stephanie Wiid and viticulturist Etienne Terblanche. Together, they set out to discover the best of the Cape’s hidden gems, intent on crafting honest natural wines that are made with a deep connection to nature and offer the most simple expression of the terroir from which they come.
They immediately gained critical acclaim for their Chenin Blanc in particular and now produce three different Chenins from three different old-vine sites around the Cape. Stephanie employs the same minimal intervention winemaking approach to produce pure, site-specific wines. Their wines are Afrikaans names for different thistles and weeds found amongst the vines grown in the Cape. Etienne and Steph draw parallels between thistles and weeds and the uncompromising tenacity and survival skills of grapevines.
