Swartland
Swartland is a dynamic and rapidly growing wine region located in the Western Cape of South Africa. The region is known for its hot, dry summers, and cool, wet winters, which create ideal growing conditions for a range of grape varietals. Swartland is particularly renowned for its bold and complex red wines, as well as its crisp and refreshing white wines. Some of the leading producers in the Swartland wine region include Sadie Family Wines, Mullineux & Leeu Family Wines, and David & Nadia, known for their exceptional wines, innovative winemaking techniques, and commitment to sustainability.
If you're a wine lover looking for something unique and exciting, we invite you to explore the wines of Swartland. From rich and powerful Syrah to elegant and complex Chenin Blanc, there's something for every palate. Plan a visit to this vibrant wine region and discover why Swartland is quickly becoming one of the most exciting wine regions in South Africa.
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Swartland
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (DC) |
Inc. VAT
£322.84 |
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Decanter (95)An utterly delicious Cinsault from Swartland pioneer and champion of the Cinsault revival in South Africa, Andre Adrian (Adi) Badenhorst. The Ramnasgras comes from a small vineyard on the estate, planted in the mid 50’s, and is the product of meticulous hand selection, fermentation in ‘dodgy old wooden vats’ and maturation in ‘less dodgy foudre for 12 months’. Such is Adi’s way, the wine is made with minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery and is a true reflection of the vintage conditions and Swartland terroir. This is full of red berries and perfumed floral notes with a mineral edge. A small production of 3,500 bottles, so worth seeking out and stocking-up if you can. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 95 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£309.64 |
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Tim Atkin MW (95)Dassiekop was the first single vineyard Chenin Blanc from Adi Badenhorst, taking its first bow in 2011. Located at 350 metres and surrounded by aromatic fynbos, this is a classic expression of granite soils: concentrated, dense and focused, all pear, wax and lanolin with mouth-watering freshness and length. 2022-27 |
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Coastal Region | 5 | 94 (JD) |
Inc. VAT
£326.44 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (94)The 2015 Syrah (100% Syrah) comes from the Porseleinberg and Goldmine Vineyards and is partially destemmed and aged 18 months in 500- and 600-liter barrels. It offers a beautiful bouquet of blueberries, violets, crushed rocks and pepper to go with a medium to full-bodied, voluptuous, yet elegant style on the palate. With sweet tannin, beautiful purity of fruit, and a great finish, it’s another sensational Syrah from winemaker Marc Kent. It’s certainly not far behind the more expensive Porseleinberg Syrah, has incredible character, and will drink nicely for at least a decade. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 19+ (MJ) |
Inc. VAT
£223.24 |
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Matthew Jukes (19+)I have never forgotten the 2000 vintage of this wine, which I wrote up in one of my books many moons ago. In the blink of an eye, the perfume on this 2018 vintage took me back to that great wine and while this label has been known to wander off into the forest in certain vintages, it is back with a brooding bang and loaded with Hermitage-like malevolence in 2018. With a melange of both red and black fruit tones and considerable aromatic lift on the nose, this is a Syrah with its feet firmly planted in the earth while its head is in the clouds such is the scale and majesty of its posture. Like the other reds in this vintage, the oak integration is near perfect and this allows the fruit to sing. If there is one wine to drink before the other reds, then this is it, and while it might be a criminal offence to drink this wine so young, I am sure you will break the law for a flavour as enthralling and all-encompassing as this one. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 97 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£235.24 |
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Tim Atkin MW (97)The wine that launched the modern Syrah revolution in South Africa, even if it's sourced from two sites in the Swartland these days, rather than Somerset West. Almost indecently perfumed and alluring, this is a very immediate wine that will also reward cellaring. Sweet spices, red berry fruit, fine, savoury tannins and just a hint of oak with energetic acidity. 2023-31 |
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Coastal Region | 2 | 19+ (MJ) |
Inc. VAT
£223.24 |
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Matthew Jukes (19+)With 90% of the fruit coming from Porseleinberg and 10% from Goldmine, both in Swartland, this is a wondrous wine with more detail and finesse than any preceding vintage. Utilising only large foudre, the spice and fruit aromatics are as pure and evocative as I have encountered in a Cape Syrah. While the flavour palette is more deep purple than black-fruited, there is no obvious oak intervention and this allows the fruit to soar. Sanguineous and sappy on the finish, this is a glorious red wine with elemental animal notes interwoven with silky ribbons of beautifully ripe blackcurrant, mulberry and plum flavours. With the same texture and volume of fruit as a Vosne-Romanée, this is a regal creation that distances itself from the meat and muscle often found in sun-loving Syrahs! |
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Coastal Region | 5 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£281.09 |
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Vinous (92)The 2017 Aristargos is a blend of several white varieties from 14 different vineyards that includes Marsanne for the first time. It is whole-bunch-pressed, with the Sémillon kept on its skins for a few days and then matured in 300-liter used barrels for 12 months. It has a vivacious bouquet of yellow plum, mirabelle and jasmine aromas, all wonderfully defined. The palate is well balanced with a waxy texture and notes of stone fruit, sesame, walnut and orange peel . A very subtle flor-like element lends tension on finish. Superb. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 91 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£167.09 |
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Vinous (91)The 2018 Aristargos is a blend of 53% Chenin Blanc, 13% Clairette, 13% Sémillon with some skin contact, 10% Roussanne, 2% Marsanne and 9% Viognier, from a mixture of old and younger vines from across 14 vineyards, matured in neutral oak for 11 months. It has a complex bouquet of nectarine, desiccated orange peel, grilled hazelnuts and a touch of almond. The palate is fresh on the entry with a fine bead of acidity and quite neutral in style, offering subtle, fleeting glimpses of orange zest and a tang of sea salt, though I would like just a little more weight on the finish. Give this a couple of years in bottle. |
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Coastal Region | 11 | 94 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£163.24 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)I did a double take when I realised this was the tenth vintage of Aristargos - 2010 seems like yesterday - but what a great and reliable wine it has become. Chenin-based with 50% Clairette, Semillon, Roussanne, Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Verdelho, it's wonderfully complex and layered, with pear, citrus and herbal notes, a hint of peach and a long, stony finish. 2021-27 |
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Coastal Region | 7 | 93 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£152.44 |
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Tim Atkin MW (93)Seventeen vineyards, 25 pickings and no co-fermentation" says David Sadie of this tasty, complex cuvée of Chenin Blanc with 51% Roussanne, Semillon, Marsanne, Clairette, Viognier, Verdelho, Grenache Blanc and Colombard. Perfumed, focused and textured for a white with just 12.5% alcohol, it's waxy, subtle and nuanced, with citrus, apple and nectarine flavours and very little oak. 2021-26 |
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Coastal Region | 5 | - |
Inc. VAT
£155.09 |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 92+ (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£169.24 |
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Vinous (92+)The 2016 Elpidios is a blend of red Rhône varieties, although with new vineyard plantings there is more Carignan. It includes 30% to 50% whole bunches and was matured in used French oak for 12 months, and another 12 months in bottle. It has a backward bouquet at first that opens with time, but it is very well defined, featuring blackberry, clove, bay leaf and white pepper, very understated in style but gaining clarity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, quite insistent in terms of grip, and possesses fine backbone courtesy of the Carignan on the slightly ferrous finish. Excellent. |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£225.89 |
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Vinous (93)The 2017 Elpidios spends an extra year in bottle compared to Sadie’s other wines. For the first year, the blend is based on Grenache (31%), plus 30% Syrah, 19% Carignan, 10% Cinsault and 10% Pinotage, with around 50% whole bunch across the range, matured in 500-liter barrels and foudres. It offers cranberry and pomegranate scents on the deep, broody nose; tertiary/undergrowth notes originate from the whole-bunch addition. The palate is medium-bodied with dark cherry, hoisin and light black pepper notes from the Carignan. This is fresh and vibrant, not powerful or deep, yet perfectly proportioned toward the finish. Very fine, and it should drink with about a year in bottle. |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 94 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£169.24 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)Made in the last of the so-called drought vintages, this stylish red assemblage has been Grenache-led since 2017, with 62% Syrah, Pinotage, Carignan and Cinsault completing the picture. Grippy, firm and stony, with 50% whole bunch spices, a waft of rose petal and tangy red cherry, plum and redcurrant fruit. 2022-28 |
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Coastal Region | 2 | 95 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£425.09 |
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Vinous (95)The 2018 Hoë-Steen is predominantly Chenin Blanc, planted toward Darling on deep iron-clay soils and usually picked after the reds. The vines were planted in 1968. This has a more stony bouquet than the Skaliekop, a very slight nutty/smoky note emanating from a few Palomino vines. The palate is just superb. It is supremely well defined with a lovely lock of salinity that runs from start to finish. There is tangible energy to this wine, which displays a hint of tangerine and even menthol toward the finish. Superb. |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 96 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£410.44 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)One of a trio of world-class single site Chenin Blancs from David and Nadie Sadie (no relation to Eben, by the way), this hails from a two-hectare vineyard that was planted in 1968 and is often picked late. Completing full malolactic - such is the acidity in the grapes - this is leesy, focused and taut, with some ferrous grip and a textured palate. 2021-29 |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 96 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£410.44 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)Hoë-Steen comes from a 1968 vineyard to the west of Malmesbury on deep red iron and clay-rich soils. Broader and richer than the other single site Chenins from the Sadies, with some ferrous grip, fine oak integration, pear, cream and stone fruit flavours and a taut finish. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 94 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£338.69 |
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Vinous (94)The name of the maiden 2018 Plat’bos (“low bush”) indicates the kind of vines it comes from, lying in a vineyard adjacent to the Skaliekop on pure granite soils. It has a unapologetically silty, stony bouquet, very reserved and austere yet with an enthralling intensity that seems almost paradoxical. The palate is very well balanced. Perhaps one of the most concentrated of David and Nadia Sadie’s wines, it reveals a crescendo of flavors, with tangerine, citrus peel, stem ginger and a touch of rhubarb toward the persistent finish. This is another impressive Chenin from this producer. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 98 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£496.84 |
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Tim Atkin MW (98)David & Nadia Sadie are now part of an elite group of South African Chenin Blanc producers, making world-class wines on a consistent basis. This is my favourite of their trio of single vineyard wines in 2019, sourced from a 3.9-hectare site on granite soils on the Paardeberg. Tight, taut and floral, with comparatively low alcohol, mouth-watering freshness, precision and acidity, notes of fennel, apple and gunflint and a lingering finish. A Cape Grand Cru. 2021-32 |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 98 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£397.24 |
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Tim Atkin MW (98)One of the great whites of the southern hemisphere, not just of South Africa, this is the Montrachet of Chenin Blanc. Made with three different pickings from the top part of the Paardebosch farm, it has the concentration of its 40-year-old vines, mouth-watering acidity and pH, chiselled freshness and layers of rock salt, aromatic spices, pear and lemongrass. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£325.49 |
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Vinous (93)The 2018 Skaliekop comes from shale soils in the Paaderberg subregion, the Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1985. It is blessed with a very aromatic bouquet of pressed white flowers and jasmine; a little honeysuckle emerges with time. The palate is fresh on the entry with a fine bead of acidity. This is understated and very well balanced, and quite reminiscent of Chris Alheit’s style of winemaking. A delicious tang of sea salt appears toward the finish. One of those wines where the adage “more is better” is surely apt. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 96 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£312.04 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)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 |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 96 (CE) |
Inc. VAT
£361.24 |
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Christian Eedes (96)This vineyard, on decomposed granite, is adjacent to Skaliekop but is slightly older having been in planted in 1981. Bewitching aromatics of flowers and herbs before pear, peach and citrus while the palate shows great focus and tension, electric acidity playing off against perfectly delineated fruit, the finish long and dry. |
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Coastal Region | 2 | - |
Inc. VAT
£254.69 |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£155.09 |
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Vinous (92)The 2018 Chenin Blanc comes from seven vineyards, the vines planted between 1962 and 1982 (and therefore eligible for the “Old Vine Project”). It has a lovely bouquet of apricot blossom, white peach, pine nuts and orange pith, the latter becoming more pronounced with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a smooth, rounded texture. This is a slightly richer Chenin Blanc from Sadie, yet still very well balanced. Nashi pear and clementine notes appear toward the elegant, almost understated finish. Top-class. Just 5,000 bottles. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 94 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£211.24 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)This is "just" the basic Chenin Blanc from David and Nadia Sadie, but it's better than most wineries' single vineyard releases. Made with fruit from seven sites, all of them old vines, it's a focused, linear, Paardeberg-dominated style with mealy, citrus flavours, some lanolin and piercing freshness. 2021-27 |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 94 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£169.24 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)This is "just" the basic Chenin Blanc from David and Nadia Sadie, but it's better than many people's top wine. Made with fruit from seven vineyards, four of them on decomposed granite, this is a classy, understated white with negligible oak, layered citrus and beeswax flavours, a hint of aniseed and stony grip. 2022-28 |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 93 (TA) |
Inc. VAT
£181.24 |
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Tim Atkin MW (93)"The more Chenin Blanc we can make as a country, the better," says David Sadie, and it's hard to disagree when they are as good as this one. Drawn from eight vineyards planted between 1968 and 1986, it’s youthful, lightly wooded and textured, with thatch and fennel aromas, some phenolic backbone and citrus and umami flavours. |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 93 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£203.09 |
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Vinous (93)The 2017 Grenache comes from two dry-farmed vineyards and saw three-and-a-half weeks’ skin contact, including 30% to 50% whole bunches, the remainder destemmed but not crushed, then matured in used oak for 12 months. It has a perfumed bouquet of mineral-rich cranberry and crushed strawberry aromas, very detailed and focused. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied, with sappy red berry fruit laced with white pepper and clove, leading into a natural, white-pepper-infused finish that lingers in the mouth. Classic Swartland Grenache. |
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Coastal Region | 5 | 92 (VN) |
Inc. VAT
£279.89 |
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Vinous (92)The 2018 Grenache includes 60% whole bunches and comes from two main sites, on iron and granite soils. It has a lovely, very pure bouquet of red cherries, crushed strawberry, pressed flowers and wild hedgerow, all extremely natural and well defined. The palate is fresh on the entry, offering plenty of crunchy fruit and oddly reminiscent of an artisan Beaujolais. The light but energetic, tensile finish has just enough dryness to encourage another sip. Very fine. |
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| Product Name | Region | Qty | Score | Price | |||||
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Coastal Region | 1 | 95 (DC) |
In Bond
£253.00 |
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Decanter (95)An utterly delicious Cinsault from Swartland pioneer and champion of the Cinsault revival in South Africa, Andre Adrian (Adi) Badenhorst. The Ramnasgras comes from a small vineyard on the estate, planted in the mid 50’s, and is the product of meticulous hand selection, fermentation in ‘dodgy old wooden vats’ and maturation in ‘less dodgy foudre for 12 months’. Such is Adi’s way, the wine is made with minimal intervention in the vineyard and winery and is a true reflection of the vintage conditions and Swartland terroir. This is full of red berries and perfumed floral notes with a mineral edge. A small production of 3,500 bottles, so worth seeking out and stocking-up if you can. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 95 (TA) |
In Bond
£242.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (95)Dassiekop was the first single vineyard Chenin Blanc from Adi Badenhorst, taking its first bow in 2011. Located at 350 metres and surrounded by aromatic fynbos, this is a classic expression of granite soils: concentrated, dense and focused, all pear, wax and lanolin with mouth-watering freshness and length. 2022-27 |
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Coastal Region | 5 | 94 (JD) |
In Bond
£256.00 |
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Jeb Dunnuck (94)The 2015 Syrah (100% Syrah) comes from the Porseleinberg and Goldmine Vineyards and is partially destemmed and aged 18 months in 500- and 600-liter barrels. It offers a beautiful bouquet of blueberries, violets, crushed rocks and pepper to go with a medium to full-bodied, voluptuous, yet elegant style on the palate. With sweet tannin, beautiful purity of fruit, and a great finish, it’s another sensational Syrah from winemaker Marc Kent. It’s certainly not far behind the more expensive Porseleinberg Syrah, has incredible character, and will drink nicely for at least a decade. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 19+ (MJ) |
In Bond
£170.00 |
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Matthew Jukes (19+)I have never forgotten the 2000 vintage of this wine, which I wrote up in one of my books many moons ago. In the blink of an eye, the perfume on this 2018 vintage took me back to that great wine and while this label has been known to wander off into the forest in certain vintages, it is back with a brooding bang and loaded with Hermitage-like malevolence in 2018. With a melange of both red and black fruit tones and considerable aromatic lift on the nose, this is a Syrah with its feet firmly planted in the earth while its head is in the clouds such is the scale and majesty of its posture. Like the other reds in this vintage, the oak integration is near perfect and this allows the fruit to sing. If there is one wine to drink before the other reds, then this is it, and while it might be a criminal offence to drink this wine so young, I am sure you will break the law for a flavour as enthralling and all-encompassing as this one. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 97 (TA) |
In Bond
£180.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (97)The wine that launched the modern Syrah revolution in South Africa, even if it's sourced from two sites in the Swartland these days, rather than Somerset West. Almost indecently perfumed and alluring, this is a very immediate wine that will also reward cellaring. Sweet spices, red berry fruit, fine, savoury tannins and just a hint of oak with energetic acidity. 2023-31 |
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Coastal Region | 2 | 19+ (MJ) |
In Bond
£170.00 |
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Matthew Jukes (19+)With 90% of the fruit coming from Porseleinberg and 10% from Goldmine, both in Swartland, this is a wondrous wine with more detail and finesse than any preceding vintage. Utilising only large foudre, the spice and fruit aromatics are as pure and evocative as I have encountered in a Cape Syrah. While the flavour palette is more deep purple than black-fruited, there is no obvious oak intervention and this allows the fruit to soar. Sanguineous and sappy on the finish, this is a glorious red wine with elemental animal notes interwoven with silky ribbons of beautifully ripe blackcurrant, mulberry and plum flavours. With the same texture and volume of fruit as a Vosne-Romanée, this is a regal creation that distances itself from the meat and muscle often found in sun-loving Syrahs! |
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Coastal Region | 5 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£215.00 |
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Vinous (92)The 2017 Aristargos is a blend of several white varieties from 14 different vineyards that includes Marsanne for the first time. It is whole-bunch-pressed, with the Sémillon kept on its skins for a few days and then matured in 300-liter used barrels for 12 months. It has a vivacious bouquet of yellow plum, mirabelle and jasmine aromas, all wonderfully defined. The palate is well balanced with a waxy texture and notes of stone fruit, sesame, walnut and orange peel . A very subtle flor-like element lends tension on finish. Superb. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 91 (VN) |
In Bond
£120.00 |
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Vinous (91)The 2018 Aristargos is a blend of 53% Chenin Blanc, 13% Clairette, 13% Sémillon with some skin contact, 10% Roussanne, 2% Marsanne and 9% Viognier, from a mixture of old and younger vines from across 14 vineyards, matured in neutral oak for 11 months. It has a complex bouquet of nectarine, desiccated orange peel, grilled hazelnuts and a touch of almond. The palate is fresh on the entry with a fine bead of acidity and quite neutral in style, offering subtle, fleeting glimpses of orange zest and a tang of sea salt, though I would like just a little more weight on the finish. Give this a couple of years in bottle. |
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Coastal Region | 11 | 94 (TA) |
In Bond
£120.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)I did a double take when I realised this was the tenth vintage of Aristargos - 2010 seems like yesterday - but what a great and reliable wine it has become. Chenin-based with 50% Clairette, Semillon, Roussanne, Viognier, Marsanne, Grenache Blanc and Verdelho, it's wonderfully complex and layered, with pear, citrus and herbal notes, a hint of peach and a long, stony finish. 2021-27 |
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Coastal Region | 7 | 93 (TA) |
In Bond
£111.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (93)Seventeen vineyards, 25 pickings and no co-fermentation" says David Sadie of this tasty, complex cuvée of Chenin Blanc with 51% Roussanne, Semillon, Marsanne, Clairette, Viognier, Verdelho, Grenache Blanc and Colombard. Perfumed, focused and textured for a white with just 12.5% alcohol, it's waxy, subtle and nuanced, with citrus, apple and nectarine flavours and very little oak. 2021-26 |
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Coastal Region | 5 | - |
In Bond
£110.00 |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 92+ (VN) |
In Bond
£125.00 |
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Vinous (92+)The 2016 Elpidios is a blend of red Rhône varieties, although with new vineyard plantings there is more Carignan. It includes 30% to 50% whole bunches and was matured in used French oak for 12 months, and another 12 months in bottle. It has a backward bouquet at first that opens with time, but it is very well defined, featuring blackberry, clove, bay leaf and white pepper, very understated in style but gaining clarity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, quite insistent in terms of grip, and possesses fine backbone courtesy of the Carignan on the slightly ferrous finish. Excellent. |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
£169.00 |
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Vinous (93)The 2017 Elpidios spends an extra year in bottle compared to Sadie’s other wines. For the first year, the blend is based on Grenache (31%), plus 30% Syrah, 19% Carignan, 10% Cinsault and 10% Pinotage, with around 50% whole bunch across the range, matured in 500-liter barrels and foudres. It offers cranberry and pomegranate scents on the deep, broody nose; tertiary/undergrowth notes originate from the whole-bunch addition. The palate is medium-bodied with dark cherry, hoisin and light black pepper notes from the Carignan. This is fresh and vibrant, not powerful or deep, yet perfectly proportioned toward the finish. Very fine, and it should drink with about a year in bottle. |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 94 (TA) |
In Bond
£125.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)Made in the last of the so-called drought vintages, this stylish red assemblage has been Grenache-led since 2017, with 62% Syrah, Pinotage, Carignan and Cinsault completing the picture. Grippy, firm and stony, with 50% whole bunch spices, a waft of rose petal and tangy red cherry, plum and redcurrant fruit. 2022-28 |
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Coastal Region | 2 | 95 (VN) |
In Bond
£335.00 |
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Vinous (95)The 2018 Hoë-Steen is predominantly Chenin Blanc, planted toward Darling on deep iron-clay soils and usually picked after the reds. The vines were planted in 1968. This has a more stony bouquet than the Skaliekop, a very slight nutty/smoky note emanating from a few Palomino vines. The palate is just superb. It is supremely well defined with a lovely lock of salinity that runs from start to finish. There is tangible energy to this wine, which displays a hint of tangerine and even menthol toward the finish. Superb. |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 96 (TA) |
In Bond
£326.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)One of a trio of world-class single site Chenin Blancs from David and Nadie Sadie (no relation to Eben, by the way), this hails from a two-hectare vineyard that was planted in 1968 and is often picked late. Completing full malolactic - such is the acidity in the grapes - this is leesy, focused and taut, with some ferrous grip and a textured palate. 2021-29 |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 96 (TA) |
In Bond
£326.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)Hoë-Steen comes from a 1968 vineyard to the west of Malmesbury on deep red iron and clay-rich soils. Broader and richer than the other single site Chenins from the Sadies, with some ferrous grip, fine oak integration, pear, cream and stone fruit flavours and a taut finish. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 94 (VN) |
In Bond
£263.00 |
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Vinous (94)The name of the maiden 2018 Plat’bos (“low bush”) indicates the kind of vines it comes from, lying in a vineyard adjacent to the Skaliekop on pure granite soils. It has a unapologetically silty, stony bouquet, very reserved and austere yet with an enthralling intensity that seems almost paradoxical. The palate is very well balanced. Perhaps one of the most concentrated of David and Nadia Sadie’s wines, it reveals a crescendo of flavors, with tangerine, citrus peel, stem ginger and a touch of rhubarb toward the persistent finish. This is another impressive Chenin from this producer. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 98 (TA) |
In Bond
£398.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (98)David & Nadia Sadie are now part of an elite group of South African Chenin Blanc producers, making world-class wines on a consistent basis. This is my favourite of their trio of single vineyard wines in 2019, sourced from a 3.9-hectare site on granite soils on the Paardeberg. Tight, taut and floral, with comparatively low alcohol, mouth-watering freshness, precision and acidity, notes of fennel, apple and gunflint and a lingering finish. A Cape Grand Cru. 2021-32 |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 98 (TA) |
In Bond
£315.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (98)One of the great whites of the southern hemisphere, not just of South Africa, this is the Montrachet of Chenin Blanc. Made with three different pickings from the top part of the Paardebosch farm, it has the concentration of its 40-year-old vines, mouth-watering acidity and pH, chiselled freshness and layers of rock salt, aromatic spices, pear and lemongrass. |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
£252.00 |
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Vinous (93)The 2018 Skaliekop comes from shale soils in the Paaderberg subregion, the Chenin Blanc vines planted in 1985. It is blessed with a very aromatic bouquet of pressed white flowers and jasmine; a little honeysuckle emerges with time. The palate is fresh on the entry with a fine bead of acidity. This is understated and very well balanced, and quite reminiscent of Chris Alheit’s style of winemaking. A delicious tang of sea salt appears toward the finish. One of those wines where the adage “more is better” is surely apt. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 96 (TA) |
In Bond
£244.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (96)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 |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 96 (CE) |
In Bond
£285.00 |
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Christian Eedes (96)This vineyard, on decomposed granite, is adjacent to Skaliekop but is slightly older having been in planted in 1981. Bewitching aromatics of flowers and herbs before pear, peach and citrus while the palate shows great focus and tension, electric acidity playing off against perfectly delineated fruit, the finish long and dry. |
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Coastal Region | 2 | - |
In Bond
£193.00 |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£110.00 |
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Vinous (92)The 2018 Chenin Blanc comes from seven vineyards, the vines planted between 1962 and 1982 (and therefore eligible for the “Old Vine Project”). It has a lovely bouquet of apricot blossom, white peach, pine nuts and orange pith, the latter becoming more pronounced with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a smooth, rounded texture. This is a slightly richer Chenin Blanc from Sadie, yet still very well balanced. Nashi pear and clementine notes appear toward the elegant, almost understated finish. Top-class. Just 5,000 bottles. |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 94 (TA) |
In Bond
£160.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)This is "just" the basic Chenin Blanc from David and Nadia Sadie, but it's better than most wineries' single vineyard releases. Made with fruit from seven sites, all of them old vines, it's a focused, linear, Paardeberg-dominated style with mealy, citrus flavours, some lanolin and piercing freshness. 2021-27 |
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Coastal Region | 3 | 94 (TA) |
In Bond
£125.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (94)This is "just" the basic Chenin Blanc from David and Nadia Sadie, but it's better than many people's top wine. Made with fruit from seven vineyards, four of them on decomposed granite, this is a classy, understated white with negligible oak, layered citrus and beeswax flavours, a hint of aniseed and stony grip. 2022-28 |
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Coastal Region | 1 | 93 (TA) |
In Bond
£135.00 |
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Tim Atkin MW (93)"The more Chenin Blanc we can make as a country, the better," says David Sadie, and it's hard to disagree when they are as good as this one. Drawn from eight vineyards planted between 1968 and 1986, it’s youthful, lightly wooded and textured, with thatch and fennel aromas, some phenolic backbone and citrus and umami flavours. |
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Coastal Region | 4 | 93 (VN) |
In Bond
£150.00 |
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Vinous (93)The 2017 Grenache comes from two dry-farmed vineyards and saw three-and-a-half weeks’ skin contact, including 30% to 50% whole bunches, the remainder destemmed but not crushed, then matured in used oak for 12 months. It has a perfumed bouquet of mineral-rich cranberry and crushed strawberry aromas, very detailed and focused. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied, with sappy red berry fruit laced with white pepper and clove, leading into a natural, white-pepper-infused finish that lingers in the mouth. Classic Swartland Grenache. |
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Coastal Region | 5 | 92 (VN) |
In Bond
£214.00 |
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Vinous (92)The 2018 Grenache includes 60% whole bunches and comes from two main sites, on iron and granite soils. It has a lovely, very pure bouquet of red cherries, crushed strawberry, pressed flowers and wild hedgerow, all extremely natural and well defined. The palate is fresh on the entry, offering plenty of crunchy fruit and oddly reminiscent of an artisan Beaujolais. The light but energetic, tensile finish has just enough dryness to encourage another sip. Very fine. |
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