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
Wine Cellar Private Client
Critics Ratings
'Semillon blanc from Olifants River, raised in large old ‘stukvate’. Tight, austere 2015, while riper than 2014 (4.5 stars, 94 pts) & previous, retains its signature rapier-like acidity & stony elegance, weaves lemon blossom with brioche & scrub, demands much time to reveal well-concealed fruit.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2017, 5*
'Bright straw-yellow. Very sexy, musky, soil-driven aromas of nectarine, orange blossom, nuts and ginger. Large-scaled, broad and rich but not quite sweet, with captivating inner-mouth spicy perfume to the ripe yellow stone fruit, crushed stone, bitter almond and quinine flavors. A bit of unabsorbed CO2 contributes verve. Like these other whites from Eben Sadie, this wine's finish is phenolic, chewy and long, with terrific lift. Loads of flavor here, not to mention uncanny breadth, thorough ripeness and immediate appeal and great acidity to support slow development in the bottle. I raised my score for the wine's palate-staining persistence.' - Stephan Tanzer, Vinous, 95/100 (May 2017)
'The 2015 Old Vine Series Kokerboom (the 2017 was being pressed at the same time as I was tasting it) has an intriguing bouquet with orange blossom, sea spray, lanolin and grilled walnut aromas, like others developing more intensity as it aerated in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with beautiful balance in the mouth, a perfect combination of sweet and sour, a tincture of almond macaroon lending sweetness towards the finish. This is the best Kokerboom that I have tasted.' - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 95/100 (Apr 2017)
'Made with grapes from Henk Laing’s much-in-demand Trekpoort farm, this is a blend of 85-year-old Semillon Blanc and Gris. Herbal, focused and beautifully balanced, with aromas of dill and oregano, a hint of orange zest and a satisfying, saline finish. Another triumph. Drink: 2016-24' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2016, 97/100
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