Deze wijngaard werd aangeplant in 1974 nabij een oude spoorweg ten Westen van Malmesbury, op de weg naar Darling in Swartland. Historisch gezien gedijde Tinta Barocca (of Tinta Das Baroccas zoals het vroeger heette) in Swartland. De diepe kleur en stevige aciditeit van Tinta Barocca zorgde voor een dankbare toevoeging aan menig assemblage. Nu het een rijpere leeftijd bereikt heeft, verdient het om apart gebotteld te worden. Mogen we zeggen dat dit meer beklijvend lijkt dan de varianten uit de Douro?
Eben Sadie
Tinta Barocca is the grape with the official passport for being a resident of the Swartland: it has been here for a long time and will remain, since it has an amazing ability to capture the Swartland terroir. Unlike some of the other varieties that enjoy greater familiarity in terms of South African wine preferences, it is a bit of an outsider…. which it really should not be. It is always a deeper wine with much more time required in ageing. This vintage is dark, black graphitic with anise and just massive earthy notes like freshly ploughed earth. It then trickles into the fruit aromas, but is austere from the outset and needs time in the glass. The tannins, as always, are firm and at 13.2 % alcohol it is just like a person who seems to be a lightweight, but who has a massive punch! Please age or decant.
IN DE PERS
96 Greg Sherwood – gregsherwoodmw.com (21 juli 2017)
Made from 42 year old Tinta Barocca sourced from a vineyard in the Swartland, the 2016 new release appears to have reached a nouveau of quality not seen before for this variety in South Africa. This latest bottling rides on a wave of lifted perfumed perfection, with intense red cherry pastille, parma violets, rose water and sweet jasmine all mingling with seductive, piecing red and black bramble berry fruits. The palate shows a vibrant focus and purity of fruit I don’t recall ever seeing to this degree on this wine before. There are lashings of sweet cherry sherbet bon bons, pink musk sweets, red currant confit, purple nastergal (African nightshade berry), and tart Victoria plums. Wonderful concentration, palate tingling acidity freshness and superb harmonious depth. The ‘poor cousin’ in the Old Vine Series has just hit the jackpot and is riding high. Drink now to 2030+.
93 Tim Atkin – South Africa Special Report 2017
Located next to an old railway line, four kilometres to the west of Malmesbury, this vineyard makes a rare varietal Tinta Barocca. Serious, compact and slightly wild, it’s a savoury, slightly austere number with a firm, chewy finish. True to the variety. 2019-25.
92 Christian Eedes – winemag.co.za
The 2016 vintage of Treinspoor, the Tinta Barocca as made by Eben Sadie from a Swartland vineyard planted in 1974, seems more well behaved and less fringe than some of its predecessors. On the nose, notes of scrub, red and black fruit, black olive and cured meat – all quite subtle and alluring. The palate shows impressive depth without being weighty – pure fruit, moderate acidity and while much is made of how tannic this wine can be, I thought the grip provided here was just right. Very well balanced.
James Pietersen (Juli 2017)
Made from 46-year-old Tinta Barocca grown west of Malmesbury. Every version of this wine is more harmonious than the last. Of the red wines, this is the one most like the previous vintages with the same deep, grippy tannins demanding time in the glass and in the bottle. Possibly the longest living of the Old Vine reds. Drink in 5 – 15 years’ time and beyond.
Christina Rasmussen (Juli 2018)
Tinta Barocca, planted in 1974, on decomposed granite and sandstone. Deeply perfumed and brooding, dense dark blackcurrant juice notes with Parma violets. There is fresh tobacco with both wet and dusty earth. It is almost Nebbiolo-like in its enticing tannin structure. It is a heady, nighttime wine—the kind of wine you want to go midnight swimming in. For Sadie, 2016 is the first vintage of this that he is happy with, and the first wine he has gotten to know. “Before,” he says, “it was like driving on sand, and now it is like being on the highway.” Sadie Family WinesWinery of the Year - Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2015 SadieThe 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. | 
