South Africa
At the bottom of its great continent, South Africa is a country of unlimited natural advantages. With the confluence of two oceans at the Cape, the sheltering effect of inland mountain chains and some of the most dynamic soils in the world, every piece is in place for the production of fine wine. The most well-known region has historically been Stellenbosch, but it is the wines of Swartland that have really turned South African wine on its head in recent years.
The wine industry is in the midst of a renaissance with classically styled wines making full advantage of remarkable terroir and an adventurous spirit. As a result, South Africa is producing some truly exceptional wines of great character and value. Striking blockbuster Syrahs and Bordeaux blends to full bodied Chardonnay and crisp Sauvignon Blanc are some of this great nation’s offerings. South Africa’s own grape, Pinotage, leaves critics divided yet can produce excellent single-variety offerings as well as distinguished Cape blends.
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South Africa
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$269.00 -
Wine Advocate (97+)
Chenin Blanc vines for this wine were planted in 1905, so the winery believes, although the records are not totally clear. The site has decomposed granite over alluvial soils and quartz. These conditions add to the textural volume of The Sadie Family's 2023 Stellenbosch Old Vine Series Mev. Kirsten and its beautiful sense of phenolic richness. The bouquet is crisp and bright with crunchy fruit, pithy apple, pear and tart pomelo fruit that adds lasting freshness. The mouthfeel proceeds with silky viscosity and complexity that can only be achieved with old-vine fruit. However, the wine also manages impressive vertical lift and tension. Like the other white wines in this series, aging takes place for 12 months in old foudre. Given the growing conditions at a moderate 185 meters above sea level, the Mev. Kirsten carries the most fruit weight in this series of Chenin Blancs (or Steen) from different denominations.$1,040.00 -
(1x75cl) 2017Vinous (93)
The 2017 Palladius is matured in a mixture of concrete and clay. It gradually unfurls with brioche, praline and honeysuckle aromas, wonderfully focused and precise. The well-balanced palate delivers orange zest and tangerine on the entry. The acidity is very well judged and there is real brightness and tension toward the finish. Is it the most complex Palladius Sadie has ever made? Maybe not, but it is still a beautiful wine.$168.00 -
(6x75cl) 2022Wine Advocate (98)
I am a white wine fanatic, and this very special wine blew me away. The Sadie Family's 2022 Swartland Palladius is a blend of 11 grapes from 17 distinct vineyard sites with old vines. The grapes used are Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Verdelho, Roussanne, Marsanne, Semillon Gris, Sémillon, Palomino and Colombard. The various vineyards are located in Paardeberg, Piketberg and Saint Helena Bay. "This is the most complex wine and difficult to make," says Eben Sadie. "A white wine needs to achieve more than a red." Made with blends and co-ferments, the Palladius presents challenges during harvest, as the fruit begins to come in at various stages and the tanks begin to fill. It sees 12 months in amphorae and concrete, plus 12 months in old foudre. It presents a spectacular collection of stone fruit aromas, lemon blossom, pastry cream filling, saffron and light spice. The Palladius is silky, textured and has enough structure for long cellar aging. This is indeed a star of the Southern Hemisphere.$882.00 -
(1x75cl) 2013Wine Advocate (95)
The 2013 Old Vine Series Pofadder brings to mind estuarine scents of mudflats and seaweed on the nose – you can almost hear the yacht’s ringing chiming in the breeze. The palate is very harmonious with crisp red cherry fruit, fresh strawberry and a touch of white pepper over a lattice of fine tannins, charged with immense vivacity and energy on the finish. This is simply beautiful.$169.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2018 Pofadder in Eben Sadie’s Cinsault from Swartland. This is complex and intellectual, yet utterly compelling, with beautifully detailed brambly red berry fruit, fennel, thyme and fynbos scents that blossom with aeration. The very detailed palate displays filigreed tannins, incredible focus and arresting purity through to the lightly spiced finish. This is one of the best from Sadie this vintage.$127.00 -
$113.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (95)
The 2017 Skerpioen has gotten even better compared to when I tasted it just after bottling. This has a glorious bouquet with scents of beeswax, yellow fruit, just a light touch of oatmeal, astounding delineation and freshness. The palate is fresh and saline, quite linear and, as I suggested back then, quite Chablis-like in terms of its marine/oyster shell influence. Tensile, tightly coiled on the finish, there is little not to love about this Chenin and Palomino blend. Tasted at the Columella vertical in Hong Kong.$157.00 -
Vinous (91)
The 2018 Skerpioen, a field blend of Chenin Blanc and Palomino, has a detailed bouquet of pressed white flowers, honeysuckle and dried apricot aromas that blossom with aeration. The palate is taut and fresh, and the saline finish remains tight and linear, perhaps just tapering a little earlier than I might have liked. Otherwise, this is very fine.$161.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2019 Skerpioen has a well-defined bouquet of pine cones, lanolin and wild fennel aromas that gains intensity with air. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, full of energy and vigor, and slightly waxy in texture. Chamomile and touches of Turkish delight appear on the finish. Stand back and watch this blossom in the glass.$179.00 -
$122.00 -
Vinous (93)
The 2021 Skerpioen is the Chenin Blanc and Palomino blend grown on limestone soils close to the coast that is matured in foudres with 10-11 months on the lees. It has a well-defined bouquet with iodine and saline notes on the nose that is slightly more neutral in style compared to Sadie's other whites. The palate is very well balanced, again, quite neutral in style, very saline with shades of nutmeg and lemon thyme, a saline tang surfacing towards the persistent finish. Uncompromising...in a positive sense of the word.$123.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The Sadie Family's 2023 Swartland Old Vine Series Skerpioen is Chenin Blanc and Palomino planted together on white limestone soils with a sandy top layer. The Chenin Blanc is picked on the underripe side, and the Palomino is picked ripe and golden yellow in color. "I am site-driven, not variety-driven," says Winemaker Eben Sadie. "My goal is to make the most honest wine from a singular site." I love the intensity of the Skerpioen, which is delivered vertically in terms of the brightness of its aromas and horizontally in terms of the pretty richness of the mouthfeel. There are hints of waxy Meyer lemon, sea salt and a hint of rubber latex. It matures in old acacia and oak foudre for 12 months.$541.00 -
$322.00 -
(1x75cl) 2018Vinous (94)
The 2018 Skurfberg, Sadie’s Chenin Blanc from Olifantsrivier, has a very neutral, pressed flower bouquet that is much more backward than the other crus. The well-balanced palate presents veins of marmalade and orange peel, wonderful tension and superb precision on the finish. Though backward at the moment, this will certainly repay cellaring.$311.00 -
Vinous (97)
The 2021 Skurfberg is pure Chenin Blanc, whole bunch pressed and aged in three old foudres. This has a beautiful bouquet with white flowers, almond and melted candle wax aromas that blossoms in the glass. The palate is very neutral in style, more a textural wine than one with overt flavours; light spicy notes emerge towards a finish that fans out with confidence. It magically gains depth and swagger with aeration - a magnificent wine - Chenin at the peak of its power.$673.00 -
(1x75cl) 2022$153.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2018 Soldaat is pure Grenache Noir from Piekenierskloof. It offers earthy red berry fruit on the nose, touches of wild heather and fynbos emerging with time and lending wonderful complexity. The palate is well balanced with a fleshy opening. There are layers of vibrant red cherry and strawberry fruit laced with white pepper and sage toward the persistent finish. Yet there is an approachability to this Soldaat that means it will be difficult to resist in its youth.$170.00 -
(6x75cl) 2019Vinous (95)
The 2019 Soldaat contains 80% whole clusters and spent three weeks on the skins, then matured in concrete. It has a very distinctive bouquet of open scents of brambly red fruit, sage, oregano and light tobacco scents that are very well defined. The palate is beautifully balanced and silky-smooth in texture with perfectly pitched acidity. What you call a "transparent" wine, as if you can peer right through it, yet it does not stint on intensity of flavor. Slightly earthy red fruit on the finish. Outstanding.$952.00 -
Vinous (91)
(from old bush vines planted in 1974; 100% whole-bunch fermentation; aged in concrete and one wooden cask): Bright, full red. Wild, leathery scents of red and darker berries and licorice are a bit rustic in a positive, soil-driven way. Concentrated, chewy, slightly dusty wine with leather and game low notes to go along with the higher-pitched red berries and flowers. Reminded me a bit of a funky grower Beaujolais but a good one. Turns a bit dry on the back end, but this is an utterly unique wine.$142.00 -
Vinous (95+)
The 2018 Treinspoor is pure Tinta Barocca from Swartland aged in old foudres. Its perfumed bouquet is much more floral than the Pofadder, with incense and pressed iris flower infusing the red berry fruit, and displays wonderful energy and precision. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity and a crisp, quite saline finish that lingers long in the mouth. I noticed it tightening up in the glass, and maybe this will shut down for a while, so drink soon or cellar for several years.$138.00 -
Vinous (96)
The 2021 Treinspoor is Sadie's Tinta Barocca that the man himself likens to Nebbiolo, also opining that it is a wine that needs considerable ageing. These vines were planted in 1974, and the blend includes 40% whole clusters. It has a complex, succinctly defined bouquet with melted tar and graphite infused dark berry fruit, a hint of Lapsang Souchong. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, perfectly-tuned acidity, almost Burgundian in texture yet with more pepperiness towards the finish. So elegant and harmonious - this is stunning from every angle you look at it.$588.00 -
(6x75cl) 2022Vinous - Neal Martin (97)
The 2022 Treinspoor is pure Swartland Tinta Barocca that includes 50% whole clusters, 20 to 28 days on the skins and matured in old foudres. The bouquet is a little plusher on the nose than the Pofadder, with crushed rose petals and fynbos - garrigue. Stunning delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannins, perfectly balanced, and a touch of graphite. It’s quite saline on the finish with a pinch of white pepper. All this is delivered at just 13.1% alcohol. Sadie reckons this grape variety is a long-term player, and I've no reason to disagree. Sublime.$652.00 -
Saurwein Nom Pinot Noir 2022 exemplifies the pinnacle of fine viticulture from the renowned Burgundy region. Crafted by the esteemed Saurwein family, this exquisite Pinot Noir is nurtured in meticulously selected vineyards that benefit from the region’s unique terroir. The grapes are hand-harvested at optimal ripeness, ensuring unparalleled quality. Employing traditional vinification techniques, the fermentation process occurs in open-top stainless steel tanks, allowing for precise temperature control and the preservation of the grape’s delicate aromatics. The wine undergoes extended lees ageing in French oak barrels, imparting subtle complexity and enhancing its silky texture. Saurwein’s commitment to sustainable practices is evident in every bottle, reflecting their dedication to environmental stewardship and exceptional craftsmanship. The Nom Pinot Noir 2022 offers a harmonious balance of elegance and depth, making it a distinguished choice for connoisseurs seeking a refined and memorable wine experience.
$94.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (90)
The 2023 Pinot Noir Nom is made in a low-intervention way from vines located at 700m altitude on red oxidised soils, matured in 25% new oak for ten months. It has an expressive bouquet with red cherry and raspberry fruit, open-knit if not quite as complex as the '24. Good vigour, with the 10-15% whole bunch imparting black pepper notes on the finish. Very fine.$94.00 -
Saurwein’s Om Pinot Noir, Western Cape 2023, epitomises the pinnacle of South African viticulture. Grown in the esteemed vineyards of the Western Cape, this Pinot Noir benefits from the region’s cool maritime climate and well-drained soils, allowing for optimal ripening and expression of varietal character. Hand-harvested grapes undergo meticulous fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks, preserving the wine’s delicate aromas and vibrant acidity. A subtle ageing process in French oak barrels imparts nuanced complexity without overpowering the fruit’s purity. The 2023 vintage showcases a rich tapestry of red berries, cherries, and subtle earthy undertones, culminating in a silky smooth palate and a lingering finish. Saurwein, renowned for their commitment to sustainable practices and unwavering quality, delivers a Pinot Noir that is both elegant and expressive, perfect for discerning connoisseurs seeking a refined wine experience.
$94.00 -
Tim Atkin MW (95)
The last two hectares of dry-farmed Syrah on the Helderberg, planted by Bernhard Bredell's grandfather in 1995, were pulled out in 2017, so this Swanesang comes from a new source on the mountain. Rich, dense and Cornas-like, it's another remarkable Syrah from this talented young winemaker, with pepper spice and grip from 30% whole bunches and meaty, stony complexity.$199.00 -
Vinous (95)
The 2019 Swanesang comes from a 0.8-hectare parcel on decomposed granite soils planted in 1999. Here, vines are usually bush vines, but Bredell has trained them to grow upright. Blended with 60% stems, there is just a slight reduction on the nose, though with aeration it reveals enticing brambly red fruit, sous-bois, fennel and white pepper scents. The palate is medium-bodied with an almost pastille-like purity on the entry that belies the structure and backbone. Mainly red fruit here, white pepper and sage, it has impressive precision and freshness on the Rhône-inspired finish.$199.00 -
$468.00
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Wine Advocate (90)
Showing its age with tarry spice and dark fruit tones, the Sijnn 2015 Malgas Red reflects an earlier chapter in the estate’s evolution. The blend of Syrah, Tinta Amarela, Touriga Nacional, Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan and Mourvèdre does not include Grenache, and after a decade in bottle, the wine presents a more evolved and weightier profile with deeper, darker edges. There is richness and maturity here, with tertiary notes emerging and tannins softening into a broader frame. This vintage predates the stylistic refinement seen in more recent releases, marking a clear step forward in subsequent years.$467.00
