South Africa

Eben Sadie started his winemaking career working for Charles Back’s Spice Route-labelled wines before breaking out on his own in 1999. He has acquired a reputation as the most innovative and inspired winemaker in South Africa with his goal to produce an expression of a region or specific site. 

The Old Vine Series (Die Ouwingerdreeks) is the fruition of a project very close to Eben’s heart. These highly sought-after wines are produced in very limited volumes and offer an incredible vinous insight into South Africa’s grape growing and winemaking history. 

Each case contains one bottle of each of below:
2018 Columella, Eben Sadie, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“The percentage of Syrah decreases every year - it was once 80% and is now closer to 45% - allowing Eben Sadie to play with other Mediterranean grapes, namely Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Tinta Barocca. Remarkably well balanced and refined given the heat and dryness of the vintage, this is a scented, floral, nuanced red with red cherry and mulberry fruit, fine tannins and a lift of stony minerality. One of the best ever Columellas. 2023-32.”
98/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2019 Treinspoor (Tinta Barocca), Old Vines Series, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“The greatest grape for the Swartland," says Eben Sadie of Tinta Barocca, unconcerned that no one seems to agree with him. Treinspoor can be hard to like in its youth, but not in 2019. Yes, it has grunt and density, but it's also savoury, aromatic and perfumed, like a cross between a Nebbiolo and northern Rhône Syrah, all tar, liquorice, blackberry, charcuterie and racy, refreshing acidity. 2023-35.”
96/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2019 Pofadder (Cinsault), Old Vines Series, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“Picked slightly riper than usual in 2019, Pofadder also benefited from a decent crop compared with some of the Old Vine Series parcels. Plusher and darker than the 2018 was at this stage, with more grip and flavours of bramble and black cherry, this is a serious, sinewy Cinsault with a nip of tannins. "A small dog that bites you," says Eben Sadie. 2023-29.”
94/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2018 Palladius, Eben Sadie, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“Space prevents me from listing all of them, but this remarkable Swartland white is made from 11 different varieties, including Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Verdelho, Palomino, Marsanne and Roussanne, spread across 17 different sites. Peach, pear and lime flavours are beautifully melded on this more-than-the-sum-of-its-parts white, with gentle oak spice and a thread of acidity that runs through the wine like a cool underground stream. 2022-29.”
97/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2019 Skurfberg (Chenin Blanc), Old Vines Series, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“A one-hundred-point white? From South Africa? I can almost hear the tutting and clucking from here. But I defy anyone to taste this monumental wine, preferably among a line-up of other, world-class wines and resist its charms. The crop was down 60%, resulting in an old-vine Chenin of mind-blowing focus, depth and concentration. Quince, lemon and subtle Asian spices segue into a palate of nuances, corners, light and shade and dark. Well done, Eben Sadie. Well done, the van Lill family, who grow the grapes. Well done, South Africa. 2023-31.”
100/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2019 Skerpioen (Chenin Blanc and Palomino), Old Vines Series, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“Skerpioen is quite a place: a wind-swept, seashore vineyard with sand and limestone soils that makes one of the Cape's most distinctive whites. Produced from co-planted Chenin and Palomino, it's wonderfully yeasty, pithy and saline with mouth-watering freshness and notes of kelp and fresh bread. 2022-29.”
96/100. Tim Atkin MW
 

Eben Sadie started his winemaking career working for Charles Back’s Spice Route-labelled wines before breaking out on his own in 1999. He has acquired a reputation as the most innovative and inspired winemaker in South Africa with his goal to produce an expression of a region or specific site. 

Each case contains one bottle of each of below:
2018 Columella, Eben Sadie, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“The percentage of Syrah decreases every year - it was once 80% and is now closer to 45% - allowing Eben Sadie to play with other Mediterranean grapes, namely Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Tinta Barocca. Remarkably well balanced and refined given the heat and dryness of the vintage, this is a scented, floral, nuanced red with red cherry and mulberry fruit, fine tannins and a lift of stony minerality. One of the best ever Columellas. 2023-32.”
98/100. Tim Atkin MW

2017 Columella, Eben Sadie, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
 This 2017 vintage has incredible tension and density and is very much ‘locked in’. The firmness of the wine suggests that it is a great keeper. It does exhibit amazing herbal, spicy and perfumed aromas and there is more than enough fruit – but it is a highly-strung wine that needs time. The tannins are fine, powdery and almost silky with  lower acidity and more expanded palate than the 2014 and 2016. The wine is super-tight and will require at least 2 hours of decantation if opened prior to 5 years of age in the bottle. 

2016 Columella, Eben Sadie, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
This Columella has a much deeper colour and concentration and is still very compact and in need of obvious ageing, but it is already showing great complexity in that the aromatics are not a singular line, but the coming together of many aspects. The aromas are a combination of bright fresh red fruits which then pass over to the riper black stone fruit. The wine is also very earthy and seems to live on a bed of freshly ploughed earth – and then there is the appearance of much darker graphite aromatics as well. The texture is still super compact and needs time: it is the result of 12 months ageing in barrels (8% new) and thereafter an additional 12 months in old, big oval casks. We bottle directly from the cask and the philosophy is to have minimum impact on the character of the grapes and rather just have the fruit express itself.

2018 Palladius, Eben Sadie, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“Space prevents me from listing all of them, but this remarkable Swartland white is made from 11 different varieties, including Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Verdelho, Palomino, Marsanne and Roussanne, spread across 17 different sites. Peach, pear and lime flavours are beautifully melded on this more-than-the-sum-of-its-parts white, with gentle oak spice and a thread of acidity that runs through the wine like a cool underground stream. 2022-29.”
97/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2017 Palladius, Eben Sadie, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
Palladius 2017 displays the magnitude of layers that is to be expected from a blend of 11 varietals across 17 vineyards, but unlike the previous two vintages there are more fresh fruit flavours and the stone fruit and peach skin aromas almost suggest a cooler vintage… this is in part the result of us picking slightly earlier than usual to try and save plant reserves for the vines to deal with the drought. This wine normally has more tropical aromas, but this year there is none of that to be found. Some white cassis and green apple skin make up a very restrained version with salty, mineral and slight honey and lime undertones. 
 
2016 Palladius, Eben Sadie, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
This 2016 vintage of Palladius has the simplicity of minimalistic design with nothing that shouts out and every one of the 11 varietals that drive this wine just seems to be in perfect synchronization. The aromas are a journey of more tropical, ripe fruit aspects going all the way to a very saline and mineral texture.

This medium to full bodied wine has aromas of bergamot, tobacco and dark fruits. The palate is structured, with firm, grainy tannins, spices and herbs, and fresh dark fruits. The finish is dry, layered and long. Best served at 16-18°C, this wine will greatly benefit from decanting if drunk within the first 3 to 5 years after bottling and will reward if cellared properly over the next few decades.

{***}{region}Western Cape{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-keep{maturity}
{maturity-text}Ready, but will keep{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}
{ratings}
   [] James Suckling:: 94/100
   [] Wine Advocate:: 92/100
   [] Vinous:: 91/100{ratings}{***}

This medium to full bodied wine has aromas of bergamot, tobacco and dark fruits. The palate is structured, with firm, grainy tannins, spices and herbs, and fresh dark fruits. The finish is dry, layered and long. Best served at 16-18°C, this wine will greatly benefit from decanting if drunk within the first 3 to 5 years after bottling and will reward if cellared properly over the next few decades.

{***}{region}Western Cape{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}
{ratings}
  [] 4.5/5 Stars Platter
  [] Tim Atkin:: 94/100{ratings}
{***}

This is beautifully perfumed Syrah, with hints of dark bramble fruit, black pepper spice and herbs. Hints of leather and earthiness emerge on the nose and full-bodied, but refined palate. The tannins are taut in form, but smooth and velvety in texture and a natural acidity brings added balance. The finish is fresh, long and concentrated. Drink 2019-2030.

{***}{region}Swartland{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}
{ratings}
  [] 4.5/5 Stars Platter
  [] Wine Spectator:: 93/100
  [] Tim Atkin:: 96/100{ratings}{***}

This is the most structured Syrah in their Single Terroir range. On the nose there are notes of black pepper, black fruit and spices. The palate is full-bodied with a meaty, savoury character, plenty silky tannins giving structure and a balancing natural acidity. The finish is fresh, long and supple. Best served at 16 to 18 °C, this wine will greatly benefit from decanting when drunk within the first 3 to 5 years after bottling.

{***}{region}Swartland{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}
{ratings}
  [] 4.5/5 Stars Platter
  [] Wine Spectator:: 92/100
  [] Tim Atkin:: 95/100{ratings}{***}

This violet-perfumed Syrah is the most elegant of our single-terroir Syrahs. The palate is medium to full bodied and delicately spicy, with a silky texture balanced by a fresh, natural acidity. There are notes of black pepper, violets and lilies, red berries and herbs. Best served at 16 to 18 °C, this wine will greatly benefit from decanting if drunk within the first 3 to 5 years after bottling.

{***}
{region}Swartland{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2015{vintage}
{ratings}
   [] 4.5/5 Stars Platter
  [] Wine Spectator:: 92/100{ratings}{***}

This 2017 Columella is the first of ‘the drought years’ to be bottled and this very wine stands as evidence of the great stability to be achieved in a region with multiple varieties and vineyards planted in diverse sites. It shows that the greatest and most stable quality is to be achieved by a selection of vineyards rather than just one. The expression of a singular site has its place, but there is simply no better strategy than the combination of a bigger variety of terroirs to build up the most stable representation of our region. This wine is the result of 12 months ageing in barrels (8% new) and thereafter an additional 12 months in old, big oval casks. This 2017 vintage has incredible tension and density and is very much ‘locked in’. The firmness of the wine suggests that it is a great keeper. It does exhibit amazing herbal, spicy and perfumed aromas and there is more than enough fruit – but it is a highly-strung wine that needs time. The tannins are fine, powdery and almost silky with a slightly lower acidity and more expanded palate than the 2014 and 2016. The wine is super-tight and will require at least 2 hours of decantation if opened prior to 5 years of age in the bottle. 

Review 27th April 2020 by Eben Sadie & Paul Jordaan:
Perplexing, in that there is almost no point of entry on the wine from an aromatic or taste aspect and the wine is still holding its cards to the chest. It does have some of the earthy aspects that were found in the early 2006 vintage. This wine is incredibly dry and restrained at this point but shouts of potential into the future. It will possibly develop into the same incredible complexities as was the case in the 2002 & 2004 vintage, but it needs the next 20 years to reveal itself.

{***}
{region}Swartland{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{***}

Palladius 2017 displays the magnitude of layers that is to be expected from a blend of 11 varietals across 17 vineyards, but unlike the previous two vintages there are more fresh fruit flavours and the stone fruit and peach skin aromas almost suggest a cooler vintage… this is in part the result of us picking slightly earlier than usual to try and save plant reserves for the vines to deal with the drought. This wine normally has more tropical aromas, but this year there is none of that to be found. Some white cassis and green apple skin make up a very restrained version with salty, mineral and slight honey and lime undertones. 

{***}
{region}Swartland{region}
{color}White{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{***}

“Space prevents me from listing all of them, but this remarkable Swartland white is made from 11 different varieties, including Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Verdelho, Palomino, Marsanne and Roussanne, spread across 17 different sites. Peach, pear and lime flavours are beautifully melded on this more-than-the-sum-of-its-parts white, with gentle oak spice and a thread of acidity that runs through the wine like a cool underground stream. 2022-29.” 97/100 Tim Atkin MW

{region}Swartland{region} {color}White{color} {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text} {vintage}2018{vintage} {***}

“The percentage of Syrah decreases every year - it was once 80% and is now closer to 45% - allowing Eben Sadie to play with other Mediterranean grapes, namely Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Tinta Barocca. Remarkably well balanced and refined given the heat and dryness of the vintage, this is a scented, floral, nuanced red with red cherry and mulberry fruit, fine tannins and a lift of stony minerality. One of the best ever Columellas. 2023-32.” 98/100 Tim Atkin MW

{***}
{region}Swartland{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2018{vintage}
{***}

Eben Sadie started his winemaking career working for Charles Back’s Spice Route-labelled wines before breaking out on his own in 1999. He has acquired a reputation as the most innovative and inspired winemaker in South Africa with his goal to produce an expression of a region or specific site. 

The Old Vine Series (Die Ouwingerdreeks) is the fruition of a project very close to Eben’s heart. These highly sought-after wines are produced in very limited volumes and offer an incredible vinous insight into South Africa’s grape growing and winemaking history. 

Each case contains one bottle of each of below:
2019 Treinspoor (Tinta Barocca), Old Vines Series, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“The greatest grape for the Swartland," says Eben Sadie of Tinta Barocca, unconcerned that no one seems to agree with him. Treinspoor can be hard to like in its youth, but not in 2019. Yes, it has grunt and density, but it's also savoury, aromatic and perfumed, like a cross between a Nebbiolo and northern Rhône Syrah, all tar, liquorice, blackberry, charcuterie and racy, refreshing acidity. 2023-35.”
96/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2019 Pofadder (Cinsault), Old Vines Series, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“Picked slightly riper than usual in 2019, Pofadder also benefited from a decent crop compared with some of the Old Vine Series parcels. Plusher and darker than the 2018 was at this stage, with more grip and flavours of bramble and black cherry, this is a serious, sinewy Cinsault with a nip of tannins. "A small dog that bites you," says Eben Sadie. 2023-29.”
94/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2019 Skurfberg (Chenin Blanc), Old Vines Series, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“A one-hundred-point white? From South Africa? I can almost hear the tutting and clucking from here. But I defy anyone to taste this monumental wine, preferably among a line-up of other, world-class wines and resist its charms. The crop was down 60%, resulting in an old-vine Chenin of mind-blowing focus, depth and concentration. Quince, lemon and subtle Asian spices segue into a palate of nuances, corners, light and shade and dark. Well done, Eben Sadie. Well done, the van Lill family, who grow the grapes. Well done, South Africa. 2023-31.”
100/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2019 Kokerboom (Semillon Blanc and Semillon Gris), Old Vines Series, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
“Another Sadie Family wine that lost half of its crop to the growing season in 2019, Kokerboom is part of a stunning array of whites from Eben Sadie this year. Made with co-planted Semillon Blanc and Gris from Henk Laing’s farm, this is herbal, saline and refreshing, all pink grapefruit, lime and lemongrass with a herbal twist and the gentle caress of old barrels. 2022-29.”
97/100. Tim Atkin MW
 
2019 Mev Kirsten(Chenin Blanc), Old Vines Series, The Sadie Family Wines, Swartland
"There’s only one foudre of this celebrated Chenin Blanc in 2019, alas, sourced from the oldest vineyard of the variety in the Cape. Now made in a more reductive, focused style than was the case in the early vintages, this has peach and pear fruit, subtle wood, effortless concentration, stony tension and palate length. Give it time to open up in the glass. 2022-29."
97/100. Tim Atkin MW
 

The 2017 Skerpioen is an equal blend of Chenin Blanc and Palomino from 80-year-old unirrigated vines on pure limestone soils. It has a crisp, marine-influenced, cockle-shell-scented bouquet, veering toward Chablis in style. The palate is beautifully balanced, with a fine line of acidity, and very saline in the mouth. Walnut and a dab of ginger emerge toward the finish. Excellent. - 93 pts Neal Martin, Vinous 

{***}
{region}Swartland{region}
{color}White{color}                            {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
{ratings}
   [] Neil Martin:: 93/100

{ratings}{***}