Enorme waardering krijgen Eben en Paul Jordaan, van de Britse Master of WIne Tim Atkin, voor de wijnen die zij maken in Swartland, Stellenbosch en Olifantsrivier. Zowel de wijnen uit de Ouwingerdreeks als de twee Signature-wines behaalden topschores. Klap op de vuurpijl was dat 't Voetpad werd gekozen als "Witte Wijn van het Jaar"!
The Sadie Family Columella 2017 98/100
Syrah-centred with satellites of 40% Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault, this is an "attempt to represent the whole Swartland", according to Paul Jordaan. All dry farmed, it's the best Columella I've ever tasted, with a lovely interplay between schist and granite soils, performing like two hands on a piano. Violets, fynbos and dry earth aromas segue into a palate that's focused, layered and subtle with bright, textured tannins and amazing minerality. 2022-35
The Sadie Family Treinspoor 2018 96/100
Treinspoor comes from a vineyard close to the railway line on the Darling side of the Swartland. It was especially crucial to get the picking date right in 2018, according to Paul Jordaan, but he and Eben Sadie nailed it. Showing the classic grip and square-jawed gruffness of Tinta Barocca, but with intense, savoury damson and tobacco flavours and ageworthy tannic structure. 2022-30
The Sadie Family Pofadder 2018 94/100
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. 2020-26
The Sadie Family Soldaat 2018 94/100
Soldaat is a high-altitude Piekenierskloof Grenache from a vineyard on sandstone and decomposed granite at 780 metres. Concrete fermented with 85% whole bunches, this is fresh, earthy and herbal, with delicate tannins, stony intensity and floral, delicate red cherry and redcurrant fruit. 2021-28
The Sadie Family 'T Voetpad 2018 99/100
‘T Voetpad is my South African white wine of the year for the second time in succession, but one thing is certain: it will be someone else's turn next year, as no 2019 was produced. This incredible old vineyard, preserved from the bulldozers by its isolation and a certain amount of bloody mindedness, is a field blend of Semillon, Palomino, Chenin Blanc and Muscat, perfectly combined in a wine that should sell for five times the price. Pear, lime, beeswax, citrus and orange peel flavours segue into a salty, mineral-etched finish. 2020-30
The Sadie Family Mev Kirsten 2018 98/100
Mrs Kirsten is what Eben Sadie describes as "our urban vineyard", located in downtown Stellenbosch. At 120 years of age, these scrubby plants are the most venerable Chenin Blanc vines in South Africa and they've produced a best-ever vintage in 2018. Rich, bold yet incredibly focused, this has tangy reduction, subtle lees and a long, long finish. 2021-30
The Sadie Family Skurfberg 2018 98/100
The sources of Eben Sadie's amazing West Coast Chenin Blanc have been reduced from three to two in 2018, leaving him with Basie van Lill and Joshua Visser, which is not a bad team to have. Grown on red, iron-rich decomposed sandstone, this is one of the world's great whites, a bold, yet incredibly focused wine that is sappy, floral and almost ludicrously long on the palate. 2021-28
The Sadie Family Kokerboom 2018 97/100
"If you pick this two days too late, it gains 2% in alcohol," says Paul Jordaan of this cuvée of Semillon and a hint of co-planted Semillon Gris, sourced from the legendary Henk Laing. In 2018, Sadie Family got the harvest date spot on, because this is an elegant, herbal, greengage and lanolin-like white with grapefruity acidity. 2020-26
The Sadie Family Skerpioen 2018 97/100
Now that I've visited the vineyard, I admire this wine even more, such is the heroism required to grow grapes in such an isolated site. Combining Chenin Blanc and Palomino grown on sand a limestone soils, it's pale, fragrant, yeasty and salty with notes of kelp, quince and citrus and some stony, struck-match reduction. 2019-28
The Sadie Family Palladius 2017 96/100
Even Eben Sadie can't always remember the 11 grapes that make up the blend of this white blend, dominated by Chenin Blanc, with Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Verdelho, Roussanne, Marsanne and Semillon Gris among the supporting cast. Amphorae and concrete egg-fermented, it's a wine that's less blowsy than in the past, with pear, peach and citrus flavours, subtle oak and aromatic spices. 2020-26
