Cape Heritage and The Loire
Timed Online Auction, 1 - 12 August 2024
Cape Heritage - White Wines
About the SessionThe Cape Heritage White Wine Session features the noble variety, Chenin Blanc, known for its versatility and fruit intensity. South Africa has the oldest Chenin Blanc vines in the world and produces long-aging, diverse and fine wines.
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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.
Palladius is the Sadie family’s signature white wine, a pure expression of the Swartland that is produced from 10 local and Rhône white varieties. Palladius is named after the Roman author who continued Columella’s work and is today one of SA’s most highly regarded white wines.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
'Made with no fewer than 11 grape varieties (you name it, it’s in there), this is the richest and densest of the Sadie whites. It’s still a baby right now, showing lovely stone fruit flavours of apricot and peach, understated oak, some pastry sweetness and a tangy, spicy finish. 2018-24.' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 95/100
'Chenin with upwards of 8 other varieties fermented in concrete ‘eggs’ & clay amphora on lees, year older foudre. While 2015 mimics 2014 (97 pts)’s effortless richness & seamless generosity, its most attractive features are its elemental core, steely minerality. Like sibling, in larger bottle formats too.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2018, 5* (95/100)
'Palladius 2015 from Sadie Family Wines is knock-out. A blend of Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Semillon, Semillon Gris, Viognier, Clairette Blanche, Roussane, Verdelho, Colombard and Palomino, it’s the first vintage from a dedicated cellar, the components vinified clay amphorae and concrete eggs. The nose is exotic with notes of potpourri, cut apple, stone fruit, earth and spice while the palate is rich and thick textured, but equally wonderfully well balanced – really dense fruit offset by tangy acidity. Layers and layers of flavour and great length.' - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 95/100
'Opulent, lush and creamy in feel, this lets lemon curd, glazed peach and creamed pear and yellow apple flavors drape over the palate, while light verbena, shortbread and honeysuckle notes give this just the requisite lift and energy for balance. A long heather echo completes the seduction. A hedonistic delight. Drink now through 2023.' - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 94/100 (Feb 2018)