Sadie Family Swartland Pofadder 2018
SKU
SFSP201812 UCAU
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96 points Neal Martin - Vinous
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The vines are between 40 and 50 years' old, producing a delicate yet energetic and intense wine with some whole bunch spices and structure
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This is one of the best from Sadie this vintage.
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1 or more bottles$110.00
Editors notes
In the 1920's Cinsault was the most planted black grape in South Africa, yet as it's one of the more fickle varieties to work with and to vinify, it suffered a fall from grace post WW2. It's only very recently that, with growers such as Sadie and Chris Alheit leading the charge, the 'Pinot Noir of the Swartland' has been reborn. The results are revelatory. Pofadder is a pure Cinsault, cropped from a parcel on the Kasteelberg Mountain planted in 1973, where the soils are composed of slate and decomposed shale. Pofadder is Afrikaans for a puff adder, a type of snake that is known in these parts and indeed, a puff adder claimed the life of a vineyard worker in the 1940s. Hence the name. Sadie is a champion for old-vine Cinsault in the Cape but he concedes that this is the vineyard, and the wine, that needs the most care. Controlling yields, bunch and berry sorting and then protection from oxidation in the cellar are all vital. In the end, yields came in below 30 hl/ha. The whole bunches were placed in an old wooden, open-top fermenter, with one or two gentle foot stomps each day to release enough juice for fermentation. After a month on skins the grapes were then transferred to a tiny basket press and pressed directly to an old wooden cask for aging. The resulting wine is a gloriously pure and ethereal ode to both variety and region.
Details
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Wine Type
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Vintage
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Variety
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Alcohol Percentage
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Oak Type
Tasting Profile
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Light (Light)Full (Full)
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Low Tannin (Low Tannin)Tannic (Tannic)
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Sweet (Sweet)Dry (Dry)
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Low Acidity (Low Acidity)High Acidity (High Acidity)
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Aroma
- Earthy
- Roses
- Tar
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Palate
- Floral
- Savoury
- Tar
Food Pairings
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Fish
Critic Scores & reviews
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Neal Martin
96"The 2018 Pofadder in Eben Sadie's Cinsault from Swartland. This is complex and intellectual, yet utterly compelling, with beautifully detailed brambly red berry fruit, fennel, thyme and fynbos scents that blossom with aeration. The very detailed palate displays filigreed tannins, incredible focus and arresting purity through to the lightly spiced finish. This is one of the best from Sadie this vintage."
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Tim Atkin MW
94"Dry farmed on the schist soils of the Kasteelberg, this is the latest in a run of superb Cinsaults from Eben Sadie. The vines are between 40 and 50 years' old, producing a delicate yet energetic and intense wine with some whole bunch spices and structure, raspberry and red cherry fruit and lacy, detailed tannins.""
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.
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- Variety Chenin Blanc
- Vintage 2017
- Brand Sadie Family
- Cellaring 15 Plus Years
- Wine Type White
- Alcohol Percentage 13.5% Alcohol
Sadie Family Swartland Palladius Chenin Blanc 2017-
Tim Atkin MW96 points
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Wine Spectator93 points
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Vinous93 points
$260.00
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.
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