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.
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
‘Plump and friendly, with a nicely melded mix of pear, yellow apple and star fruit flavors, laced with salted butter and meringue notes that ripple on the finish. Chenin Blanc and Palomino. Drink now through 2022.’ – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 92/100 (May 2019)
‘Interplanted chenin & palomino off unique chalky West Coast soils, co-fermented/year very old foudres. 2017 more expressive in youth than 2016 (90 pts), 2015 (93 pts), yellow stonefruit, white peach fruitedness; as saline & earthy, though; well-judged acidity brings focus & length.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2019, 4.5* (92/100)
‘Unusually for the West Coast, the Skerpioen vineyard is on limestone soils close to the Atlantic. This equal cuvée of Chenin Blanc and Palomino is “our Chablis” according to Eben Sadie. Fresh, mouth-watering and saline, this is a wonderfully complex wine with subtle struck match notes and grapefruity acidity. 2020-28’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2018, 96/100
‘The 2017 Skerpioen is an equal blend of Chenin Blanc and Palomino from 80-year-old unirrigated vines on pure limestone soils. It has a crisp, marine-influenced, cockle-shell-scented bouquet, veering toward Chablis in style. The palate is beautifully balanced, with a fine line of acidity, and very saline in the mouth. Walnut and a dab of ginger emerge toward the finish. Excellent.’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 93/100 (Aug 2018)
‘A Swartland field blend of Chenin Blanc and Palamino planted between 1958 and 1967. The predominant impression on the nose is of white fruit – pear and white peach – but there are also hints of naartjie, hay and herbs. The palate is pure and direct – not too lean or thin but certainly not weighty. Very fresh acidity and a long, pithy finish.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 93/100 (Nov 2018)
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