Editors notes
First released in 2000, Columella is Sadie's most famous wine. While it is regularly described as an 'icon wine' of Swartland, and indeed South Africa, Eben Sadie's goal is simply to produce the best and most honest expression he can from Swartland as a whole. As such the blend includes all six of the seven official black grape varieties that grow within the region, sourced from a range of the soil types. The 2017 is 60% Syrah, with the remainder coming from Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault. The fruit is sourced from both Sadie Family vineyards and rented parcels. This release was grown on seven different soil types--inc. granite, slate, gravel and sandstone--across nine separate vineyards in Paardeberg, Kasteelberg, Malmesbury and Piquetberg. The majority of the vineyards are low-yielding, old-vine parcels, though some of the Estate's younger material also plays its part. Many of the Syrah vines have been trained to their own pole, echelas style, as per the Northern Rhone. In terms of the winemaking, most of the fruit is destemmed, although each year an increasing percentage of the fruit is whole bunch. Sadie has a sorting team of 25 who discard between 8-15% of the berries each year. The sorted grapes then go into a huge open, concrete fermenter (with an average three weeks on skins) before being basket pressed into mostly old, French oak barrels, with only 8% new. Following a year on lees the wine is racked into oval casks (foudres) for a further maturation on the fine lees.
Details
-
Wine Type
-
Vintage
-
Variety
-
Brand
-
Location
-
Cellaring
-
Closure
-
Alcohol Percentage
-
Bottle Size
-
Oak Type
Tasting Profile
-
Light (Light)Full (Full)
-
Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
-
Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
-
Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
-
Aroma
- Earthy
- Roses
- Tar
-
Palate
- Floral
- Savoury
- Tar
Food Pairings
-
Fish
Critic Scores & reviews
-
Tim Atkin MW
97"Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault, Grenache, Tinta Barocca Fermented in open concrete vats; no additions are made. Basket pressed, then transferred to barrel. Aged 12 months in 8% new oak and then 12 months in old foudres. No fining or filtration."
-
Wine Spectator
94"A tightly wound but well-crafted example, this needs a little bit of air at the moment, but will be better after a few years of cellaring. Elegant, featuring notes of damson plum, black tea and lavender, with juicy acidity and firm, integrated tannins providing support. Shows balance, intensity and depth."
-
Vinous
93"The 2016 Columella was matured for 12 months in 10% new oak and then 12 months in old foudres. There is something warm and comforting about the nose: blueberry, crushed violet, a touch of burning embers, almost a damp clay scent. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, the Syrah not as pronounced as previous vintages (a policy pursued by Eben as he increased Grenache), and delivering gentle grip toward the slightly peppered finish and long, black-pepper-tinged aftertaste. Very impressive."
Other vintages
Love this wine? Here's a list of other vintages we have in stock if you'd like to try them as well.
There are no other vintages found.
Current auction
All current auctions for this wine & any different vintages.
Locations
South Africa
You’ll find the bulk of South Africa’s wine regions on or near the coast of the Cape, where they leverage the cooling influence of the Southern Ocean. Combined with the mountain ranges that run through many of the regions, providing various altitudes, aspects, and soils, this unique landscape yields a wide range of wine styles. Among the black grape varieties planted here are Cabernet Sauvignon (the most widely planted), Merlot, Syrah, and Pinot Noir. Pinotage, a cross between Pinot Noir and Cinsault, also has significant plantings and is little grown elsewhere in the world. Winemakers create Pinotage in a range of styles, from light and fruity to full-bodied old-vine wines. Among the white grape varieties, Chenin Blanc is the most widely planted grape of either colour; Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay are also widely grown. Among the prominent winemaking areas of South Africa are Stellenbosch, Paarl, Swartland, Walker Bay, Durbanville, Constantia, Worcester, Robertson, Elgin, and Elim.
Western Cape
Western Cape is a sweeping wine region of South Africa, with more than 90% of the country’s wine production happening here. It’s home to such important winemaking districts as Stellenbosch (the centre of fine-wine production for the country), Paarl, Cape Peninsula (specifically, the Constantia ward), Swartland, Worcester, Robertson, Walker Bay, and Elgin. Western Cape produces a wide range of wines, from bulk, inexpensive drops to premium brands. Keeping in mind its size, the province generally enjoys a warm Mediterranean climate. However, microclimates vary thanks to the province’s many mountains, differing proximity to the ocean, changing elevations, and differing aspects. A diverse range of grapes also grow here, including Pinot Noir, Tinta Barocca, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinotage, and Chenin Blanc.
You May Also Like
Customer Reviews
Write Your Own Review