The Wines of Loire
Timed Online Auction, 1 - 8 May 2023
Session 1
About the SessionThe Loire Valley is a large region that follows the longest river of France. The Loire is an exceptional place to find lean, racy, white wines, including those of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadet. Red varieties include Cabernet Franc, Gamay and Cot (Malbec), which produces herbaceous, rustic reds.
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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 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, there were only a miniscule 82 cases made.
Provenance
Wine Cellar Private Client
Critics Ratings
‘The 2014 was the most intense and fleshy of the Sadie whites; 2015 is an equally superb follow-up - precise and pure, with savoury/umami nuances and slate-like minerality. While incredibly agile, it shows the depth and presence of its singular origin: 100+ year old Stellenbosch Chenin Blanc. Fermented in concrete ‘eggs’ & clay pots.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2017, 4.5*
‘The 2015 Old Vine Series Mev Kirsten, which comes from the heaviest soils, has an attractive bouquet with yellow flower and hazelnut aromas, just a hint of gingerbread that emerges with time. Perhaps this is the most mercurial aromatics of Eben's 2015s. The palate beautifully balanced once again, a crisp line of acidity, just a slight viscosity here with hints of clear honey and quince jelly on the long and tender finish. Very fine, but I think it has more to give.’ - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 93+/100 (Apr 2017)
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