The Sadie Family Wines Ouwingerdreeks (Old Vines Series) Mixed Case

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