Eben Sadie is considered one of the great preservationists and visionaries in the new generation of South African winemakers. The wine writer Neal Martin recently called Sadie an “outspoken, peripatetic, terroir-obsessed winemaker who has been instrumental in putting Swartland on the map. He produces a small portfolio of comparatively expensive, but highly coveted wines based on Rhone varieties sourced from his seemingly never-ending search for pockets of old bush vines and unique terroirs. These are cerebral wines built to age.”
Palladius
Paardeberg, Piketberg, and St Helena Bay
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Columella's treatise on farming, De Re Rustica, is a comprehensive account of Roman viticulture. His successor was Palladius. 13 parcels, all in the Swartland, specifically in Paardeberg, Piketberg, and St Helena Bay. Always a blend and always Chenin Blanc based. Naturally fermented in clay amphora and concrete eggs. Further aging in truly neutral casks. Unripe yellow fruit, lanolin, vibrant.
Scores
2018 Wine Advocate 94
2019 Vinous 94
2019 Tim Atkin 96
Columella
Paardeberg, Kasteelberg, Malmesbury and Piquetberg
Harvest & Vintage Notes
The ever-evolving flagship of Eben Sadie. A Syrah based blend that is a study of terroir. Granite, slate, gravel, and sandstone soils, all in the Swartland. Spontaneous fermentation in 3300L open top concrete. Unfined and unfiltered after spending 2 years in neutral wood, both small barrels and foudre. Red fruit, violets, spicy.
Scores
2018 Wine Advocate 95
2018 Tim Atkin 98
2019 Tim Atkin 100
Skurfberg
Citrusdal Mountain
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Skurfberg means Rugged Mountain. The capsule represents the reddish color of decomposing Table Mountain sandstone that is found in the WO of Citrusdal Mountain. 100% Chenin Blanc. Long, natural fermentation and aging in neutral foudre. Bottled right from cask. Peach skin, viscus, mineral.
Scores
2019 Vinous 95+
2020 Tim Atkin 99
Skerpioen
Swartland - St. Helena Bay
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Steen (Chenin Blanc) and Vaalblaar (Palomino) from St Helena Bay in the Swarltand. Limestone soils match the color of the capsule. Lots of scorpions in these vineyards hence Skerpioen. Natural fermentation and aging in neutral casks, bottled directly off the lees. Chamomile, straw, saline.
Scores
2019 Vinous 93
2020 Tim Atkin 96
Kokerboom
Citrusdal Mountain
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Citrusdal Mountain Semillon. The land of white green grape and red green grape - the two Semillons. The capsule is green. Lots of quiver trees in this area, kokerbooms. Fermented and aged on the gross lees in neutral cask. Ripe pear, lime, length.
Scores
2019 Tim Atkin 97
2020 Tim Atkin 96
Mev. Kirsten
Stellenbosch - Jonkershoek Valley
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Steen in Jonkershoek Valley in Stellenbosch. A blend of young vines that are harvested first and fermented in 500 liter casks and old vines that harvested two weeks later and fermented in neutral foudre. The old Chenin Blanc, perhaps the oldest in all of South Africa, belongs to Ms Kirsten. Golden Delicious apple, texture, longevity.
Scores
2019 Vinous 96
2020 Tim Atkin 98
‘T Voetpad
Swartland
Harvest & Vintage Notes
The Footpath - the name of this wheat and rooibos team farm in the Swartland that has a very old vineyard tucked away inside. Co-harvested and co-fermented Semillon Blanc, Semillon Gris, Palomino, Chenin Blanc and Muscat d' Alexandrie. Naturally fermented and aged in older foudre and then bottled from the lees. Stone fruit, straw, a rarity.
Scores
2018 Tim Atkin 99
2018 Wine Spectator 94
2020 Tim Atkin 98
Pofadder
Swartland – Riebeeksrivier
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Cinsaut grown in iron rich slate. The capsule matches the soil. Wear your boots because there are plenty of puff adders around, poisonous vipers. 50% whole cluster natural fermentation. Both concrete and foudre for aging. Bright red fruit, tension, lifted.
Scores
2019 Vinous 92
2020 Tim Atkin 96
Soldaat
Citrusdal Mountain - Piekenierskloof
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Citrusdal Mountain grenache. 60% whole cluster, wholly concrete. The capsule is a reflection of this elegant, purple soldier. Pomegranate, perfume, fresh.
Scores
2019 Vinous 95
2020 Tim Atkin 97
Treinspoor
Swartland – Malmesbury
Harvest & Vintage Notes
Tinta Barrocca planted on an alluvial plain in the Swartland with plenty of quartz. The capsule glistens. And adjacent to an old railway line. 50% whole cluster fermented and aged in neutral conical casks and then settled in concrete before bottling off the lees. Plum, graphite, mineral.
Scores
2019 Vinous 93
2020 Tim Atkin 96