Rhône theme
Timed Online Auction, 30 January - 10 February 2025
Rhône - South Africa
About the SessionOver the past decade South African Rhône-style offerings have witnessed an explosion in popularity, led by the Swartland in the 2010s and subsequently spreading across the Cape.
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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, leading to being voted Winemaker of the Year in 2017 by the International Master of Wine Institute and the glamorous Golden Vines Global Rising Star Award three times in a row. 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 Piekenierskloof took its name from the piekeniers (foot soldiers) who were located at the top of the pass of the mountain to protect the lifestock in this part of the old Cape Colony from theft, hence this parcel of vines being named Soldaat (Soldier). This pure Grenache on granite soils is often said to have a nose ‘reminiscent of an old Rayas’. Forming part of Sadie’s Old Vine Series, only 350 cases were produced.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
'Lovely warming nose of strawberry jam on warm scones, crushed gravel and sweet fynbos herbal notes before bramble berry fruits with a distinct savoury, meaty finish.' - Greg Sherwood MW, 93+/100 (Jan 2023)
'Grenache from Piekenierskloof, 2016 treads lightly despite ripeness relative to other reds in line-up. Fragrant, with attractive sanguine tones, spicy characters; refreshing grape tannin grip & endless densely packed fruit finish. Year in concrete ‘eggs’.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2018, 4.5* (94/100)
'A bright, fresh style, with unadorned raspberry and boysenberry fruit flavors streaming through, flecked with dried anise, black tea and shiso leaf notes. A well-embedded iron hint through the finish adds spine and cut. Very refined. Grenache. Drink now through 2022.' - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 93/100 (Feb 2018)
'For my money, this is the best Grenache in South Africa. Made with 85% whole bunches, it’s a fine, elegant, floral red showing flavours of plum, bramble and liquorice, sweet Asian spices, fine tannins and remarkable freshness from its altitude of 708 metres. 2019-28.' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 96/100
'Grenache. Light nose. Rather mild and well behaved with some light saltiness. Fresh and floral. Far from Châteauneuf-du-Pape intensity! Long. It builds on the end.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 16.5+/20 (Oct 2017)
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