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.
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
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.
The Mev Kirsten heralds from a vineyard at the base of Jonkershoek, Stellenbosch. Generally recognized as the oldest Chenin Blanc vineyard in SA, having been established between 1905 and 1920.
Provenance
Wine Cellar Private Client
Critics Ratings
‘SA’s oldest chenin, Stellenbosch block mostly planted 100+ years ago. Undergoes initial carbonic maceration to protect oxidation-prone juice. 2018 stately & opulent but also has thrilling acidity lighting up gorgeous red apple, peachy fruit. Precision, as in 2017 (4.5 stars, 94 pts). Possibly longest-lived of these whites.’ – Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2020, 5* (95/100)
‘Mrs Kirsten is what Eben Sadie describes as "our urban vineyard", located in downtown Stellenbosch. At 120 years of age, these scrubby plants are the most venerable Chenin Blanc vines in South Africa and they've produced a best-ever vintage in 2018. Rich, bold yet incredibly focused, this has tangy reduction, subtle lees and a long, long finish. 2021-30’ - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2019, 98/100
‘The 2018 Mev. Kirsten has a seductive bouquet of dried honey, mirabelle, orange blossom and light fennel aromas. The palate is fresh and saline on the entry, with a sense of energy and vivid animation. The marmalade and quince-tinged finish leaves the tongue tingling with glee. This continues to be one of Sadie's most compelling labels.’ - Neal Martin, Vinous, 97/100 (Oct 2019)
‘Initially, the nose of the 2018 Old Vine Series Mev Kirsten started off shy but after getting the wineglass spinning, it awoke with a white powdery minerality, citrus focal point, centered around dusty white flowers. On the palate, the wine expands and unfolds with the complexity of a Rubik's cube, continually spinning between blanched almond skin, pressed citrus peel, bee pollen and with a fine powdery minerality that lingers through the finish. Medium to full-bodied, the complexity of this wine is evident with its long finish and bright acidity that is softly bitter and makes me crave fresh shellfish on the beach. The structure, complexity and focus will allow this wine to age for decades. Impressive!’ – Anthony Mueller, Wine Advocate, 92/100 (Oct 2019)
Other lots that might interest you
