Alheit Vineyards | Sadie Family Wines | Vilafonté
Live Virtual Auction, 10 October 2021
Fine Wine
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.
Critics Ratings
'Located in the cooler, Darling side of the Swartland on sandy-loam soils, this is a rare outing for Tinta Barocca as a dry red in the Cape. Showing the tannins that make it such a good variety for fortified wines, it’s mineral, dry and firm, with bright acidity, redcurrant and raspberry fruit and the concentration to age. Drink: 2016-22' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2016, 94/100
'How much to expect from single-variety Tinta Barocca? This wine is from a Swartland vineyard planted in 1974 and the first impression the nose of the 2015 gives is a subtle meatiness and then flowers, red fruit, spice and white pepper. The palate shows good flavour intensity, fresh acidity and fine tannins. It’s a striking wine on account of its fruit purity but it’s not particularly detailed, at least not at this stage.' - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 92/100
'(from old bush vines planted in 1974; 100% whole-bunch fermentation; aged in concrete and one wooden cask): Bright, full red. Wild, leathery scents of red and darker berries and licorice are a bit rustic in a positive, soil-driven way. Concentrated, chewy, slightly dusty wine with leather and game low notes to go along with the higher-pitched red berries and flowers. Reminded me a bit of a funky grower Beaujolais but a good one. Turns a bit dry on the back end, but this is an utterly unique wine. '- Neal Martin, Vinous, 91/100
'The 2015 Old Vine Series Treinspoor, Eben's Tinta Barocca cuvée, which he said has "the biggest passport in South Africa" since the grape has been grown there for a long time for fortified wine production, has a lucid ruby color. Eben told me that it is actually one of his most difficult sells but I am of the opinion that it is one of his best wines. Darker in colur than then other OVS labels, it has a captivating bouquet with raspberry, cranberry leaf, tobacco and damp wet clayey aromas. The palate has firm tannin that Eben compared to Piedmont, which I can understand. The acidity is beautifully judged with killer salinity and mineralité on the finish that both linger in the mouth. This is an outstanding South African wine.' - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 96/100 (Apr 2017)
Provenance
Wine Cellar Private Client
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