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 for the striking tree aloes near the old vineyard it comes from. The vineyard was planted in the 1930s, with a mix of standard Semillon and a red-berried form of the grape once common in the Cape and probably unique to this country, but now almost vanished. Both versions used to be called “Greengrape”.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
‘Stunning, with peach, nectarine, orange and tangerine flavors forming the prodigious core, backed by verbena, green almond and mirabelle plum notes that lend tension and drive from the start. Everything is caressed by a warm brioche accent on the very long finish. Tantalizing now, but this feels like it has more to give with time. Sémillon. Best from 2020 through 2028.’ – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 96/100 (Feb 2018)
‘Semillon from Olifants River, raised in large old oak ‘stukvate’. Statuesque, slightly smoky 2016’s hay/dried pear nose & palate opulent & luxurious, shot through with variety’s signature acidity but less austere, more generous than rapier-like 2015 (5 stars, 97 pts).’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2018, 4.5* (92/100)
‘From Olifantsrivier Semillon planted in the 1930s. The hot and dry conditions of 2016 have led to a wine of particular richness and ripeness in the case of this wine (alcohol is 14.5%). On the nose, the wine shows some hay before lime, white peach and green melon. The palate seems even more full and round than usual with a creamy texture undercut by tangy acidity, the finish gently savoury.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 92/100 (Aug 2017)
‘There’s usually one standout Sadie Family white in any given vintage, and this is it for me in 2016. Made with 85-year-old Semillon Blanc and Gris from Henk Laing’s Trekpoort farm, this is complex, concentrated and beautifully balanced with notes of grapefruit, passion fruit, creamy lees, subtle oak and a tight, minerally grip. World class. 2018-26’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 98/100
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