Provenance

Wine Cellar Private Client

Critics Ratings

Sadie Family Kokerboom 2016:
‘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)

‘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

Sadie Family Mev Kirsten 2016:
‘Always priced above the other Sadie whites, largely because of the age and small size of the vineyard and the tiny yields, this is a stunning Chenin in 2016: rich, dense and honeyed, but with a structure that would suit a red wine, with notes of pepper spice and struck match and a long, minerally finish. 2018-28.’ – Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 96/100

'With a richer, bolder expression, a testament to the challenging vintage, the 2016 Old Vine Series Mev Kirsten has a gorgeous nose, showing dusty pineapple, apple skin with white spice and baked earth. In the mouth, the wine expands to show greater depth with a delicate nuttiness and mineral tension, with the subtle growing flavor of arugula, moving slightly waxy across the mid-palate. Medium to full-bodied, the mouthfeel is well textured and has an amazing liveliness to the long complex and lingering finish.' - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 94/100

‘White peach, pear and nectarine, 2016 Chenin from 100+ year old block’s quintessential Stellenbosch fruit character is precise and pure, perhaps even more so than in 2015 (94 pts). The least savoury/mineral of these whites, at least in this vintage, its dignity and persistence is always beyond reproach. Fermented/year in concrete ‘eggs’ and clay pots.’ – Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2016, 4.5* (93/100)

Sadie Family Palladius 2016:
‘Still quite introvert and youthful but clearly unlike any single-varietal wine. Firm, deep-flavoured with the structure to last.’ – Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17+/20 (Jun 2022)

‘Step-change in 2016, tighter, tenser than previous, will unwind slowly over ±10 years. Steely & precise, with striking purity, umami nuance, tremendous presence. Chenin with 10 other varieties fermented/aged year on lees in concrete ‘eggs’ & clay amphora, then year older foudres.’ - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2019, 5* (96/100)

'Eben Sadie rates this white blend as the best of his current releases. Made with ten different cultivars and dipping below 14% alcohol for the first time, it’s an orchestra rather than a solo instrument. Elegant and refined, with no wood at all, this is an harmonious cuvée with beeswax, tarte tatin, orange zest and pear flavours. 2019-24’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2018, 96/100

Sadie Family Pofadder 2016:
‘Exceptional clarity of hue, red fruit & purpose in 2016 from old Riebeek-Kasteel cinsaut vineyard courtesy year in neutral foudre. Disarmingly dry (1.9 g/l), tad leaner than usual yet with great persistence & presence, delicate grip for few years ageing. 2014 (4.5 stars, 93 pts) was the last we tasted.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2018, 5* (95/100)

‘The nose shows a particular poached pear quality as well as black cherry with notes of lavender, earth and spice in the background. On the palate, lovely fruit concentration, lemon-like acidity and fine tannins. The finish meanwhile is long and dry in a way rarely achieved in South Africa – grippy but not astringent making the wine extraordinarily food-friendly and very more-ish. Benchmark stuff.’ – Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 94/100 (Aug 2017)

‘Described as “the most challenging wine we work with” by Eben Sadie, this pure Cinsaut is light, scented and charming, with notes of rose petal and candy floss, summer berry flavours and a crunchy, taut, pomegranate-like finish. The challenge was worth the effort. 2018-24’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 94/100

Sadie Family Skerpioen 2016:
‘The 2016 Skerpioen from Sadie Family Winery is the only vintage not reviewed on Vinous and so why not fill in the gap? It is a brilliant Chenin Blanc and Palomino blend; there’s a razor-sharp definition on the nose with scents of seaweed and sea spray, a background of flinty aromas emerging with time. The palate offers exquisite balance thanks to its silver bead of acidity, that marine theme continuing towards its almost balletic, graceful finish with hazelnut and a pistachio hint on the aftertaste. I often think that Sadie’s Old Vine Series wines are drunk too young, and this wine not only benefits from a bit of bottle age but will clearly give another 15-20 years of drinking pleasure.’ – Neal Martin, Vinous, 95/100 (Jan 2023)

‘Intense and still youthfully tight, with verbena and white peach notes leading the way for yellow apple, chamomile, white ginger and jasmine flavors. A lovely quinine streak is well-embedded, giving this tension and vibrancy through the finish. Chenin Blanc and Palomino. Drink now through 2024.’ – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 95/100 (Feb 2018)

‘This equal blend of Chenin and Palomino comes from an unirrigated vineyard on (rare) limestone soils close to the Atlantic. It’s a little broader than the 2015, but has lovely beeswax and yeast characters supported by a salty tang. 2017-23’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 95/100

Sadie Family Skurfberg 2016:
'Dryland chenin from Olifants River. 2016 as impressive, distinguished as ever despite severe drought pressure; an honest reflection of the vintage & venerable site. Slightly richer, warmer (14.5% alcohol) than 2015, it’s still compact, perfectly balanced & beguiling in its earthy minerality.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2018, 5* (95/100)

'Rich and layered in feel, with creamed yellow apple, heather, chamomile and pear flavors gliding through, backed by light fennel and green almond accents on the finish. The energy here ripples underneath, thanks to well-embedded acidity, giving this length to match the depth. Chenin Blanc. Drink now through 2023.' - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 94/100 (Feb 2018)

'One of only two Chenins in the old vine series, this comes from three farms on the slopes of the Skurfberg. Naturally fermented in old wood, it’s a stunning white with white flower aromas, notes of pastry, citrus and nectarine and an intensity that builds and builds on the palate. The finish is long and very mineral. 2018-24' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 97/100

Sadie Family 'T Voetpad 2016:
‘Field blend from one of SA’s oldest vineyards. Equal chenin & semillon - less palomino in 2016, a more equal partner in 2015 (4.5 stars, 94 pts) - dash muscat as ever. Charming if understated citrus fruit profile; the real attraction is its stony leanness, breathtaking balance. Year well-seasoned vats.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2018, 5* (98/100)

‘Pure, focused and very refined, this lets Bosc pear, Jonagold apple and white peach flavors stream through unhindered while echoes of persimmon, verbena and macadamia nut fill the background. Floral lift and a light quinine thread add tension through the finish. A real jaw-dropper. Chenin Blanc, Sémillon Blanc, Sémillon Gris, Palomino and Muscat. Drink now through 2026.’ – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 96/100 (Feb 2018)

‘Remarkable blend of Semillons Blanc and Gris, Chenin Blanc, Palomino and Muscat, vines as old as 129 years.’ – Nancy Gilchrist MW, Decanter.com, 96/100 (Oct 2017)