Single-Owner Private Collection of Fine Wines from South Africa, Bordeaux, Rhône Valley, Italy, Spain and more….
Timed Online Auction, 27 June - 15 July 2024
South Africa - Whites
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
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.
Named after the abundant native scorpions that make their home here, Skerpioen is an unirrigated 2.4-hectare, 80+-year-old vineyard of chenin blanc and palomino that forms part of Sadie’s Old Vine Series (Ouwingerdreeks).
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
‘The 2016 Skerpioen from Sadie Family Winery is the only vintage not reviewed on Vinous and so why not fill in the gap? It is a brilliant Chenin Blanc and Palomino blend; there’s a razor-sharp definition on the nose with scents of seaweed and sea spray, a background of flinty aromas emerging with time. The palate offers exquisite balance thanks to its silver bead of acidity, that marine theme continuing towards its almost balletic, graceful finish with hazelnut and a pistachio hint on the aftertaste. I often think that Sadie’s Old Vine Series wines are drunk too young, and this wine not only benefits from a bit of bottle age but will clearly give another 15-20 years of drinking pleasure.’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 95/100 (Jan 2023)
‘Intense and still youthfully tight, with verbena and white peach notes leading the way for yellow apple, chamomile, white ginger and jasmine flavors. A lovely quinine streak is well-embedded, giving this tension and vibrancy through the finish. Chenin Blanc and Palomino. Drink now through 2024.’ – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 95/100 (Feb 2018)
‘Equal chenin, palomino blend acclaimed for elemental attributes. 2016’s hallmark iron, salt & earth accents true to form, as fresh acid bite, gravelly texture. Like 2015 (93 pts), unexpressive bouquet when young. Off vines in unique chalky West Coast soils (WO Swartland), year very old foudre.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2018, 4.5* (90/100)
‘The second of the hot, drought vintages, the 2016 is showing a lot more expressive complexity than when I first tasted this wine on release. It still has a pithy nose of lime peel, lemon grass, apple, dried herbs, talc and dusty granite. A little extra time in bottle has allowed this wine to develop subtle notes of white peach, orange blossom, white pear and an alluring grilled herbs and pork fat complexity. Fleshy and textural with perhaps not quite the same depth, power and intensity of the 2015, this wine remains a very finely poised, beautifully balanced and thoroughly delicious release from Eben Sadie. Start drinking now, but no rush as this will evolve for another 10+ years.’ – Greg Sherwood MW, 93+/100 (Jul 2018)
‘This equal blend of Chenin and Palomino comes from an unirrigated vineyard on (rare) limestone soils close to the Atlantic. It’s a little broader than the 2015, but has lovely beeswax and yeast characters supported by a salty tang. 2017-23’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 95/100
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