Cape Heritage, Sweets & Fortifieds
Timed Online Auction, 5 - 17 June 2025
Fortifieds
About the SessionIt's rare to witness a collection of vintage ports like what's on offer in the 2025 Strauss winter catalogue. With the cold evenings approaching, these complex beauties are the perfect companions to open before dinner to warm the atmosphere.
ZAR 6 500
About this Item
First launched in 2010, the 2008 Niepoort & Sadie Cape Fortified was produced from Swartland grapes (reportedly Tinta Barocca, Grenache, Carignan and Pinotage) under the direction of fifth-generation port producer Dirk Niepoort who reportedly said: 'I can't let them taste this back in Portugal, I will be shot! It is one of the best wines I have ever made, anywhere.' After 12 years of ageing in traditional 'pipes' (cigar-shaped barrels imported from Portugal), the same wine was released as a limited-release and highly collectable Tawny.
'The 2008 Cape Tawny Fortified had the benefit of input from a family with a history in the making of port: the Niepoort Family has been producing fortified wines for a couple of centuries now and their understanding of these wines is profound. It has been a great process of discovery to make this wine together with them. This release is a limited production and therefore highly collectable, but more important than that: it was made and bottled to be enjoyed and to be shared with friends. We opted for 375ml bottles to enable you to share more easily.' - The Sadie Family
Provenance
Wine Cellar Private Client
Critics Ratings
'We are very impressed with its poised and extremely pure nose which leads on to a subtle, long and crystalline finish. Served chilled, the Blitsem Witblits 2017 proves an inspired pairing with charcuterie and pickled herring. Because it is only single-distilled, and not continuously distilled like grappa, it offers an unadulterated expression of the vines and the vintage.' - James Pietersen, Wine Cellar (Nov 2017)