Chenin & Pinotage
Timed Online Auction, 4 - 11 September 2023
Chenin & Pinotage
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About this Item
Eben Sadie is South Africa’s most revered winemaker and he arguably kick-started the local fine wine revolution. Over two decades his pursuit for quality in the Swartland has been unparalleled in South Africa and he was voted Winemaker of the Year in 2017 by the International Master of Wine Institute. Eben’s wines were influenced by the Rhône and Spain, with traditional local varieties sourced from pockets of old bush vines and unique terroirs. Long-ageing Columella is often regarded as South Africa’s best red, while Palladius similarly offers an incredible Swartland expression and decades of longevity. The old vine single vineyard series, which was first released in the 2009 vintage, is now firmly the most sought-after release of the year. Mev Kirsten is South Africa’s rarest white wine, produced from a century old Stellenbosch vineyard, while the now legendary Skurfberg received 100 points from Tim Atkin in 2020.
The lot consists of 1 bottle each Sadie Family Mev Kirsten 2014 & 2015.
The Mev Kirsten heralds from a vineyard at the base of Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch. Generally recognized as the oldest Chenin Blanc vineyard in SA, established between 1905 and 1920. 2014 was released in the same year as the passing of Mrs. Anna Kirsten and this vintage was dedicated in her honour and features a special neck label to commemorate her life.
Provenance
Wine Cellar Private Client
Critics Ratings
2014:
'Mrs. Kirsten passed away on April 10, 2015, so lucky recipients of the 2014 Old Vine Series Mev Kirsten will notice a little homage to this lady on the neck label. It has an extremely complex, quite profound bouquet: melted wax mixed with damp soil, white tea, candied orange peel and dandelion. The palate is very pure and slightly waxy in texture, with touches of white pepper and rosemary sprinkled over the lightly honeyed fruit, dialing down the gears towards the finish that is so effortless. This is a cerebral wine -- 750 milliliters of delicious intellect.’ – Neal Martin 96/100, Wine Advocate (2015)
'Richly layered, with pear, ginger, white peach and almond cream notes that glide along seamlessly, carried by perfectly embedded acidity through the chamomile- and verbena-infused finish. Balanced by good cut, this flows, rather than races, along. A beauty. Chenin Blanc. Drink now through 2020. 82 cases made' - Wine Spectator 93/100 (2016)
2015:
‘The 2014 was the most intense and fleshy of the Sadie whites; 2015 is an equally superb follow-up - precise and pure, with savoury/umami nuances and slate-like minerality. While incredibly agile, it shows the depth and presence of its singular origin: 100+ year old Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc. Fermented in concrete ‘eggs’ & clay pots.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2017, 4.5*
‘The 2015 Old Vine Series Mev Kirsten, which comes from the heaviest soils, has an attractive bouquet with yellow flower and hazelnut aromas, just a hint of gingerbread that emerges with time. Perhaps this is the most mercurial aromatics of Eben's 2015s. The palate beautifully balanced once again, a crisp line of acidity, just a slight viscosity here with hints of clear honey and quince jelly on the long and tender finish. Very fine, but I think it has more to give.’ - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 93+/100 (Apr 2017)
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