Eben Sadie, a pioneer of Swartland winemaking, has taken his estate to new heights with the construction of a state-of-the-art winery. After a year of tireless work, the new facility is nearly complete, showcasing both functionality and aesthetics while emphasizing sustainability. This major milestone in the Sadie Family Wines’ journey coincides with a transitional period, as Eben’s sons, Markus and Xander, take on more responsibilities. Neil Martin’s recent visit highlighted the impressive range of 2023 wines, the last vintage produced in Sadie’s old cellar. As Sadie shared, the compressed harvest of 2023 presented challenges, but the quality of the wines remains exceptional.
Reflecting on the growing season, Sadie remarked, “We used to pick over two months, but we now pick over 4 to 5 weeks. Everything got massively compressed… Our summers start late, and picking dates [for each of the vineyards around the Cape] are around the same time. So, there’s three weeks less hang time that affects early ripening more than late-ripening grapes.”
2023 Highlights from Neil Martin’s Review
2023 Kokerboom – 93 Points
A blend of co-planted Sémillon Blanc and Gris, the 2023 Kokerboom offers a bouquet of yellow plum and light waxy scents, slowly revealing a hint of star anise. The palate is fresh and balanced, with citric notes of bitter lemon and orange rind leading to a strict, linear finish. It’s a beautifully tensile wine with a lingering presence.
2023 Mev. Kirsten – 96 Points
Perhaps the most fruit-driven of Sadie’s Chenin Blancs, the 2023 Mev. Kirsten is dense and weighty, with aromas of yellow fruit, oyster shell, and lanolin. The palate is rich and slightly viscous, balanced by keen acidity. With a touch of petrol on the finish, this wine is fabulous from start to finish.
2023 Rotsbank – 97 Points
The second vintage of Rotsbank, made from Chenin Blanc, shows a complex bouquet with gunflint, pear, honeysuckle, and crushed stone. The palate brims with energy and drive, showcasing balance and complexity. Its penetrating finish makes it one of the most remarkable wines in Sadie’s portfolio, rapidly claiming its place as a standout.
2023 Skerpioen – 94 Points
A co-planting of Chenin Blanc and Palomino, the 2023 Skerpioen comes from a wind-exposed parcel in Swartland. With a fresh nose of linseed oil, yellow fruit, and sea spray, the wine delivers a razor-sharp line of acidity on the palate. It’s full of tension and salinity, with a divine, linear finish.
2023 Skurfberg – 95 Points
Sadie’s 2023 Skurfberg is pure Chenin Blanc, grown on sandstone soils. The nose is intense, with oily and resinous notes of grapefruit and peach skin. On the palate, the wine is taut and energetic, driven by lime and finishing with elegance. This wine is both powerful and gifted, a true standout in the lineup.
2023 Voetpad – 94 Points
This co-planted vineyard of Chenin Blanc, Sémillon Blanc, and Sémillon Gris produces a wine with a nose of linseed, hazelnut, and earthy tones. The palate balances phenolic richness with sharp acidity, finishing with ginger and orange rind. A wonderfully complex wine from a challenging vineyard.
2022 Palladius – 97 Points
A blend of several white varieties, including Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, and Sémillon, the 2022 Palladius is the wine Sadie has always wanted to make. The nose is delectable, with wax resin, linseed oil, and orange blossom. The palate is taut, fresh, and saline, with an immense nervosité on the finish. This is a truly remarkable wine, even better than the 2021 vintage.
2023 Pofadder – 96 Points
This 100% Cinsault wine offers a floral bouquet of rose petals, white flowers, and bright strawberry. The palate is medium-bodied, with crunchy red fruit and a mineral-driven finish. The 2023 vintage shows an effortless brilliance, surpassing even last year’s.
2023 Soldaat – 93 Points
The 2023 Soldaat is Grenache grown on quartz sandstone, presenting a pretty bouquet of Morello cherry and strawberry. On the palate, it’s light with pomegranate and red cherries, offering a fresh and vibrant expression with light tannins and a lilting quality.
2023 Treinspoor – 95 Points
Made from Tinta Barocca, the 2023 Treinspoor has a complex nose of dark berry fruit and Earl Grey tea, reminiscent of Nebbiolo. The palate is medium-bodied, with chalky tannins and a bright, brisk finish. This wine is both characterful and outstanding, showing Barolo-like qualities.
2022 Columella – 95 Points
The 2022 Columella, a blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault, and Tinta Barocca, has the lowest alcohol level ever for this cuvée at 13.2%. The nose is introspective, slowly revealing potpourri, undergrowth, and brambly red berry fruit. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a sapid, balanced finish. A cooler Columella than previous vintages, it shows great potential for aging.
The Sadie Family Wines continues to be at the forefront of South African winemaking. With a new cellar marking a fresh chapter for the estate and a lineup of brilliant wines in 2023, Eben Sadie’s focus on precision, sustainability, and innovation remains unwavering. Each wine tells a story of place, season, and meticulous craftsmanship, and the 2023 vintage reaffirms Sadie’s status as a visionary in the world of fine wine.
