Wijnen

Olfantsrivier. Old bushvine Chenin Blanc on decomposed sandstone soils. 580 kistjes gemaakt.

Deze 100% old Bushvine Chenin Blanc is afkomstig van drie percelen op de hellingen van Skurfberg tussen Clanwilliam en Lamberts Bay in Olifantsrivier. De variëteit van de percelen is de sleutel van zijn complexiteit: het ene perceel brengt immense aromatische concentratie, het tweede mineraliteit en een aards karakter, en het derde, hoogste perceel, dichter bij de Atlantische Oceaan, frisheid en zuren. Na percellaire vinificatie wordt dit fruit na 12 maand gemarrieerd, en 6 maand later gebotteld.
In vergelijking met de andere witte wijnen van de Ouwingerdreeks vertoont Skurfberg een beetje reductie en rokerige, kruidige en aardse complexiteit. Deze strakke witte wijn vertoont spanning en mineraliteit in zijn fruitintensiteit doorspect met krijttietsen. Gelaagd en voorzien van een mijlenlange finale, is Skurfberg 2015 een gigant van een witte wijn die nu al verleidt maar zeker keldering verdient. 580 kistjes gemaakt.

Eben Sadie
We managed to pick at a perfect time in 2015, for the minerality and feel of the wine and the fruit expression are possibly in the best equilibrium we have ever had in this wine. The acidity was great in 2015 and we have very high expectations for this wine in terms of its future aging potential. The wine is drinking very well now, but it will be a good decision and a compliment to the wine to put a couple of bottles away for the future.

IN DE PERS

93/100 Neal Martin – The Wine Advocate Issue #230 – robertparker.com (April 2017) - The 2015 Old Vine Series Skurfberg, Eben Sadie's pure Chenin Blanc was picked late afternoon and driven to the winery through the night when it is cooler. It offers attractive aromas of lanolin, nutmeg, nectarine and peach skin, well defined and gaining intensity all the time with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, smoked walnut, bitter lemon and a pinch of white pepper, developing more and more intensity with time. This is sublime. Drink 2018-2028.

96/100 Tim Atkin MW – SA Special Report 2016 (september 2016)

94 Stephen Tanzer - vinous.com (Mei 2017)
(from decomposed sandstone vineyards planted between 1940 and 1955; three parcels were vinified separately, then fermented with wild yeasts and aged in a large, old oak foudre and concrete): Straw-yellow. Sexy perfume of peach, orange blossom, flowers, nutmeg and nut oil, plus a suggestion of redcurrant. Wonderfully broad, fine-grained and concentrated yet light on its feet, displaying superb richness and depth but no impression of weightiness. The wine's umami quality and stony minerality remind me a bit of Chablis, but the flavors are totally different, conveying powerful site specificity. The lightly dusty but fine finish goes on and on. This classically dry, rather wild wine is a bit austere today and built to age. It will probably be most prized by adventuresome tasters.

94/100 James Molesworth – winespectator.com
Exotic, offering a wide range of star anise, pineapple, green almond, green fig and yellow apple notes, carried by a racy quinine accent that’s deeply buried on the finish. A whiff of honeysuckle completes the seduction. Chenin Blanc. Drink now through 2025. — J.M.

97/100 Christian Eedes - Winemag.co.za (5 september 2016)
From Olifantrivier Chenin Blanc vineyards planted between 1940 and 1955, the wine has a gorgeous nose of pear, apple, white peach and dried herbs. The palate displays exceptionally pure fruit and great freshness before a long and pithy finish. Extraordinarily direct in the sense of the fruit of a great site in a great vintage beautifully interpreted by the winemaker. The Skurfberg 2015 joins the 2005 and 2006 vintages of Boekenhoutskloof Noble Late Harvest as the wines with the highest ratings ever on this site.

Winemag - Top 20 South African Wines of 2016: No. 1 The Old Vine Series Skurfberg 2015

Sadie Family Wines

Winery of the Year - Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2015

Sadie

The Swartland Independent Producers veranderen Zuid Afrika als wijnland. Hun pionier is één van de beste wijnmakers ter wereld (en een ervaren surfer) genaamd Eben Sadie. Hij wordt vereerd als National Treasure en gamechanger. Hij ontgint wonderlijke terroirs, herstelt verwaarloosde bushvines en leidt de avant-garde in doordachte wijnbouw en vinificatie. Zijn Columella en Palladius zijn de eerste Afrikaanse Grands Vins. Daarnaast biedt zijn iconische “Ouwingerdreeks” kleine loten eigenzinnige bewaarwijnen uit specifieke climats. Appreciëer deze boeiende en betekenisvolle wijnen zolang de voorraad strekt.

2017 Winemakers' Winemaker Award, Institute of Masters of Wine

Jane Masters MW, chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine - Eben’s determined search to produce outstanding wines has put Swartland and South Africa on the map. I am delighted that the Master of Wine Winemakers have rewarded his dedication and talent – it’s truly well deserved.