There is probably never going to a better time to visit David Sadie at his leased winery on the Paardebosch Farm in the Paardeberg where he produces his David & Nadia range of Swartland Wine of Origin wines. After all, it’s not everyday one of your wines scores 98/100 points twice in close succession, in this case, his Hoe Steen Single Vineyard Old Vine Chenin Blanc 2015 grown on decomposed red soils with granite.

After smashing the scoring meters at Decanter Magazine’s blind Chenin Blanc tasting, this same wine cracked another individual 98 points and a “White Wine of the Year” title from journalist Tim Atkin MW in his 2016 South Africa Report. Despite only one barrel being produced in 2015, it highlighted what is possible with this fabulous variety in the right hands.

David’s leased cellar is snug but seems to deliver the goods. In 2017 around 86 tons were crushed, with many of these grapes coming from vineyards being managed in a more organic viticulturally orientated style. The famous Skalie Kop vineyard is only one hectare and the Hoe Steen two hectares. Expectations are of course greater than ever, but giant of a man David Sadie is up to the challenge, ably assisted by Andre Bruyns, another accomplished wine maker.

Aristagos White Blend 2014, 13.5 Abv.

Chenin Blanc / Roussanne / Clairette Blanc / Semillon. Complex spicy dusty slatey mineral nose, with green peppercorns, incense, yellow fruits, green tea, green apples and waxy peaches. Full and beautifully round, the palate is fleshy and harmoniously creamy textured with real breadth and pithy yellow stone fruit complexity, finishing with hints of stem ginger, aniseed and fennel leaf. Drinking beautifully at the moment.

(Wine Safari Score: 94+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Aristagos White Blend 2015, 13.5 Abv.

Chenin Blanc / Roussanne / Clairette Blanc / Semillon (skin contact). Dense waxy nose that’s a touch broody and tight to begin. Develops spicy notes of apple purée, incense, dried herbs, lemon grass spice and savoury baked apples. The palate tantalises with a steely determination, more tension and focus than the 2014, and massive dry extract concentration and fruit length. Yellow peaches, pineapple pastille and aromatic yellow citrus fruits leave their mark. A seductive mineral laden white that will benefit from further ageing. 

(Wine Safari Score: 95/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Aristagos White Blend 2016, 13 Abv.

Chenin Blanc +- 50% / Roussanne / Clairette Blanc / Semillon 10-12%. Another dry vintage that saw very low yields and earlier picking to preserve acidity resulting in lower alcohols in general. This wine is already very aromatically expressive showing waxy incense, bruised red apples, yellow peaches, and pineapple pastille opulence. The 2016 incorporates the fleshy, harmonious breadth of the 2014 with the tension, intensity and linearity of the 2015, finishing with beautifully cool, stoney yellow fruits and a dry mineral expression. Immaculate balance. A great success for the vintage. Seek this wine out! 

(Wine Safari Score: 96/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Other wines tasted…

Sadie Pinotage 2016, Siebritskloof, 12.8 Abv. From two single vineyards. Dark Broody nose, leafy, sappy black plum and black berry fruits. Partial large oak aged portion. Fine sleek polished texture, cool and elegant. Impressive focus and tension but also a beautifully precise finish with sappy sweet tannins, crunchy berry fruit concentration and a saline, briney twist.

(Wine Safari Score: 93+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)

Elpidios 2015 Red Blend

Carignan / Syrah / Cinsaut / Grenache / 10% Pinotage (24+ year old bush vines on granite). Very spicy, perfumed savoury black berry fruited nose. There is a real mineral dusty granitic Swartland authenticity here. Lifted and fragrant, the palate is packed with black berry, black plum, and spicy peppery black olive tapenade complexity. Again, lovely balance and harmony with impressive textural breadth and depth but also a fairly tight, linear finish. This wine, out of all David’s reds, always benefits from several years ageing before starting to show it’s true potential.

(Wine Safari Score: 93+/100 Greg Sherwood MW)