Sadie Family
Palladius 2018
Cape Heritage
About the SessionA selection of South Africa’s finest wines, inspired by our rich wine heritage and the unique character of the Cape Winelands. Chenin Blanc is celebrated for its remarkable versatility, producing an exceptional range of wine styles, particularly in South Africa, home to the oldest Chenin Blanc vines in the world. These historic vineyards continue to produce wines of great diversity, elegance, and ageing potential. The Pinotage selection showcases leading producers, all of whom have become consistent flag bearers for this proudly South African variety.
About this Item
The 2018 Swartland vintage was defined by heat and drought, yet Palladius, drawing on seventeen vineyard parcels across the region, showed the extraordinary resilience of Eben Sadie's old-vine sourcing network, producing a wine of seamless integration and elevated complexity. Sadie Family's 2018 Palladius earned 97 points from Tim Atkin MW and 95 points from Anthony Mueller at The Wine Advocate. Palladius is named for the Roman writer on agriculture who succeeded Columella, a blend of up to thirteen grape varieties from the Swartland's finest old-vine parcels: Chenin Blanc-driven, with contributions from Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Viognier, Sémillon, Colombard, Verdelhe and Palomino. The wine is whole-cluster pressed, naturally fermented in clay amphora and concrete eggs, and aged on the lees.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
"Delivering aromas of lemon oil, raw honeycomb, wax melon and underripe peach skin, gorgeous on the nose with a delightful floral lift. Medium-bodied on the palate with notions of dusty honeysuckle and citrus blossom, lovely mineral tension and a kiss of phenolic bitterness. Absolutely stunning." - Anthony Mueller, The Wine Advocate, 95/100 (Feb 2021)
"A seamless entity with slightly higher acidity than in 2017, much more layered with increased overall polarity. A great white wine that surpasses all classifications." - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2020, 97/100 (Sep 2020)
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