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
'A blend of 51% Palomino and 49% Chenin Blanc, this is a pure and mineral-driven wine, with superb verve to the clean aromas and flavors of apple flesh, white peach, orange glossom, almond skin and minty fynbos. It's balanced and complex, with layered notes of roasted nuts, honeysuckle, toasted apple skin and sweet spice all mingling harmoniously. Delicious now, but will hold well through 2020.' - Lauren Buzzeo, Wine Enthusiast, 92/100 (Apr 2016)
'Dried pear & mango, green olive tapenade, an unusual olive oil note, 12 presents its complexity quietly, layer upon layer, anchored by grapefruit freshness. A wonderful way to experience tiny 2T/hectare production of palomino & chenin.’ – Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2014, 4.5*
'A pure, chiseled style, with white peach, jicama, honeysuckle and salted almond notes, giving way to subtle brioche and shortbread hints through the long, finely tuned finish. This is sneakily long, showing good precision. Palomino and Chenin Blanc... 400 cases made.’ – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 92/100 (Jun 2014)
'Palomino and Chenin Blanc on beach sand and very chalky soil, right on the coast. Broad and a little soft but very tight. A curiosity. But, as usual from Eben Sadie, very well made.’ – Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 16.5/20 (Jun 2013)
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