The Sadie Family - 'Columella' Red Blend 2013

The Sadie Family - 'Columella' Red Blend 2013

NZD$190.00
(No reviews yet)
Current Stock:
Adding to cart… The item has been added
Description

"The aromatics show slightly darker fruit, with the ripeness just outside the red fruit spectrum – approaching the blue berry fruit dynamics. Amazingly, however, this is the lowest alcohol Columella bottled since the maiden 2000, but even though we have seemingly reduced ripeness on paper, in the bottle we did not sacrifice an iota of texture or volume. The real gain was in the acidity and overall freshness."

 

--------THE PRODUCER--------

The Sadie Family Winery

The Sadie Family winery is headed by Eben Sadie. Eben is considered to be one of the absolute leaders of the new generation of South African winemakers. He is a visionary that is trying to put not just put the region he grows in, Swartland, on the map but also South Africa. He is producing wines that are true expressions of grapes, soils and regions with all of the wines made being highly coveted and extraordinarily good. Eben Sadie founded the winery in 1999 and has been making incredible wines ever since.

 

--------THE GRAPE--------

Rhone Red Blend

The Rhone Red Blend is often known as the GSM blend whereby the three main grapes are Grenache, Syrah and Mouvedre. In actuality there can be up to 13 grapes made into this blend, by law, in the southern Rhone Valley. You can have lighter and more floral versions of the Rhone Red Blend or have bolder and oakier versions depending where in the world it is made. They are most popular in France, California and Australia.

 

--------THE REGION--------

Swartland

Traditionally a grain-producing area, in summer the Swartland district is marked by green pockets of vineyards clambering up the foothills of the mountains (Piketberg, Porterville, Riebeek and Perdeberg) and along the banks of the Berg River. In the past, the region was planted mainly to bushvines but trellising is increasingly being adopted due to advances in management strategies and quality considerations.

The Swartland literally translated means ‘the black land’ and the area takes its name from the now endangered indigenous renosterbos (rhino bush) which once turned the landscape a dark colour at certain times of the year. The district was traditionally a source of robust, full-bodied red wines and high quality, fortified wines. The Swartland Independent Producers (SIP) is a coming together of a group of like-minded producers working to express a true sense of place in the wines of the Swartland. 

In recent times, some exciting award-winning wines have emerged, both red and white, and the area continues to produce top port-style wines. Increasing percentages of Pinotage, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are being grown here, as well as Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. It has five designated wards:  Malmesbury, Paardeberg, Paardeberg-South, Riebeekberg and Riebeeksrivier. The district of Swartland borders Piketberg to the north, which is not dissimilar in both geography and climate.