Young Guns
Online-Only Auction, 17 - 28 November 2022
Young Guns | For the classicists and the geeks alike, an incredible collection
About the SessionWhat is a Young Gun?
A talented winemaker who pushes the boundaries, breaks the rules and creates cutting-edge wines with personality and energy. Young Guns either work, or have worked for notable estates, but also produce unique wines under their own labels. They are dynamic, working together in pushing the envelope and promoting brand SA. They are the winemakers who should be on your radar as they are making some of the most daring, innovative, and simply delicious wines in SA. They travel and taste extensively, drawing inspiration from the classics through to the more edgy, hip styles and techniques, from the profound and obscure wine regions of the world. And then they apply their own creative interpretations on home soil, often searching for unique vineyard sites, cultivars and old vines. The results are most often small in numbers and high in demand, selling out on release. They are the rising stars, the future icons and ultimately, tomorrow’s investment wines.
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About this Item
When one considers the long list of acclaim and reputation built from releasing top quality wines, vintage after vintage, from their restored 220 year old cellar on Paardebosch farm on the slopes of the Paardeberg in the Swartland, it's hard to imagine that David & Nadia Sadie established this brand as recent as 2010 only. The wines are characteristically fine and elegant, expressive of the places they come from. The focus lies on a spectrum of organic, old and dry land bush vine vineyards from different areas with different soil types throughout the Swartland, farmed by like-minded people. Considered one of the 'young guns' during the fine wine revolution of the Swartland, David's wines are now considered among the best in the region and beyond.
David & Nadia is a family owned Swartland Winery who have quickly become one of the best white wine producers in South Africa. Made from a single vineyard planted in 1985 in very shallow shale soils on the Paardeberg. This “hill of shale”, as the name suggests, is surrounded by granite-rich soils, making it quite a unique vineyard site. Since 2020 the "Skaliekop" block has been a certified heritage vineyard.
Critics Ratings
2015
‘Younger of the single-vineyards (1985), on a shale (’skalie’) site; also bunch pressed, minimal intervention, only older oak. 2015 true to 2014 (94 pts) debut in its attractive ferrous character, silky and harmonious palate, exquisite soft, saline conclusion hinting at tangerine pith.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2017, 4.5* (93 pts)
'Like Hoë-Steen, this is another single barrel Chenin from the Sadies, although Skaliekop comes entirely from the Paardebosch farm and is grown on richer soils. The result is a denser, more textured wine, showing favours of banana bread and pear, a drizzle of honey
and a taut, structured finish.' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2016, 95/100
2016
‘From shale (’skalie’) site planted in 1985; as single-vineyard sibling, bunch pressing, minimal intervention, older oak. Individual, wild ‘dissident’ profile in 2016, khaki bush and scrub features, a tense, ferrous character. Like 2015 (4.5 stars, 93 pts), exquisite saline conclusion.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2018, 5* (98 pts)
'Production doubled - to two barrels - in 2016 from this bony, granite-based site planted in 1985. Aged in old wood, it underwent 100% malolactic fermentation but doesn’t lack acidity or focus. Aniseed and baking spice flavours segue into a rich, honeyed, refreshing palate. 2018-22.' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2017, 95/100
2017
'It’s an amazing achievement to produce two of South Africa’s greatest Chenins, but David Sadie has done it in 2017. This come from a 1985 bush vine block on a shale outcrop surrounded by granite and is tight, coiled and focused, with some underlying stone fruit flavours, subtle oak and incredible length. 2019-26.' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2018, 98/100
'Only four barrels made. Planted in 1985 on Paardeberg Farm – not part of the Old Vine Project (OVP) – yet. Shale vineyard, as evinced by the name. Shale from Porseleinberg. David explained that the style of this wine is associated with granite, but this is broader with tension. Bone dry and spreads right across the palate. Minerals and lime. Masses of acidity. Real skein of purity. Concentrated by drought.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17+/20 (Aug 2018)
2018
‘From shale (’skalie’) site planted 1985; as range siblings, bunch pressing, minimal intervention, older 300L oak. Individual, wild ‘dissident’ profile in steely, mineral 2018, with khaki bush and scrub features. A tense, ferrous character and exquisite saline conclusion, as in 2017.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2020, 5* (95 pts)
'Single vineyard planted in 1985 on brown shale soils with a north west facing aspect. Picked in the last week of January over two or three passes through the vineyard. Instantly taut, restrained and mineral driven with gravel, green apple pastille, crunchy pear and dry bush veld spice nuances. Palate shows a sleek texture, fabulous intensity and balance, fresh electric acids, salinity and an impressively long, white peach and pear purée finish. Nice coiled tension and eminently age worthy without any doubt.' - Greg Sherwood MW, A Fine Wine Safari, 95/100 (Jul 2019)
2019
‘Rich marmalade tang to 2019 with honeyed nuance at end. As effortless and precise as siblings; winemaking identical: bunch pressing, natural ferment, ageing in older oak. Seemingly simple but highly complex; concentrated and enthralling, with focused poise. From shale (’skalie’) site. 13% alcohol.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2021, 5* (96 pts)
'Skaliekop is a shallow shale site on the Paardebosch farm that benefited from the addition of moisture-retaining mulch in 2019. Yeasty, leesy and broader than the other two single vineyard Sadie Chenins, this has notes of citrus peel and beeswax, plenty of weight and a stony finish. 2021-29.' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2020, 96/100
2020
‘Complex 2020 shows razor acid balance with fruit and oak. Beautiful purity, too, of dried apple and peach on lees backing. Assured and elegant, nothing overstated or dominant. Sophisticated yet refreshing, with wonderful length and ethereal density. From shale (’skalie’) site.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2022, 5* (95 pts)
'An Old Vine Project wine for the first time in the 2020 vintage, being from a vineyard planted in 1985. Almost colourless. Almost stinky, it’s so mineral-driven on the nose! But on the palate it’s much broader and friendlier. Very fine satin texture with a freshness and obvious ageability.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17.5/20 (Sept 2021)
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