David
Sadie
Visiting South Africa's Swartland wine region, Part 6
Website: www.davidsadie.co.za
David
Sadie
While I was out at the Swartland
Revolution, I met up with David Sadie, who of course shares a famous
name with the most famous of all Swartland winegrowers (apparently
they are not related). David Sadie grew up in the Swartland and is
now based in Tulbagh, where he makes Lemberg’s wines. He also
makes wines under his own label, ‘David’, and has recently been
accepted as a member of the Swartland Independent.
Sadie is currently trying to take a more
natural approach at Lemberg, a winery on the up since it was
purchased by Henk du Bruyn in 2007. And this year Sadiehas increased
the production of his own brand to 4000 bottles.
Sadie focuses on freshness and texture.
‘For me, natural freshness and acidity is valuable’, he says.
These are lovely wines and this is a producer to watch.
Added
later: I got another chance to taste his wines with him at Cape
Point. They are fabulous, and the notes have been added below.
THE
WINES
Date of tasting indicated in brackets
David Chenin Blanc 2011
Swartland, South Africa
One barrel made. Textured, fine, smooth and fresh. Subtle white
peach and pear, with citrus freshness. Fine and expressive with a
mineral edge. 93/100
(09/12)
David Aristargos 2011 Swartland, South Africa
Three barrels made. Elegant, fine, expressive with lovely pear
and peach fruit. Quite exotic but still very fresh, with nice
purity. 94/100
(09/12)
David Grenache 2011 Swartland, South Africa
1 barrel made, 4th fill oak. Fine, supple and elegant with
bright red cherry fruit and some mineral and pepper notes. Delicate
structure, nicely mineral. 94/100
(04/12)
David Red Blend 2011 Swartland,
South Africa (barrel sample)
No name for this yet: it's a blend of Syrah, Carignan, Grenache
and Cinsault; three barrels made. Lovely pure, tight primary fruit:
raspberry, cherry and blackberry. Ripe yet fresh with some
fleshiness and taut mineral character. 92-95/100 (09/12)
David Chenin Blanc 2011
From 2 vineyards, one in Paardeberg and one in Riebeek Mountain.
Fresh, fine and expressive with notes of mineral, herb, apple and
pear. Very fine and expressive. 92–94/100
(11/11)
David
Aristargos 2010 Swartland, South Africa
51% Chenin, 39% Viognier, 10% Verdelho. Aromatic and rich with
lovely, lively ripe melon and white peach fruit. Textured but lively
with great concentration allied with finesse. 93/100 (tasted 05/11)
David Aristargos 2011 Swartland, South
Africa
A white blend that’s mostly Swartland with some Paarl. 40%
Chenin, with the balance 20% each of Roussanne, Viogner and Grenache
Blanc. Fermented in older oak. Nice richness and depth with white
peach and pear fruit. Good texture, but still fresh with lovely
precision. A lovely wine. 92–94/100 (11/11)
Lemberg Viognier 2011 Tulbagh, South
Africa
David’s first attempt at making a more natural wine at Lemberg.
Rich yet fresh with peach and pear notes. Good varietal character
with lovely fruit. 90–91/100
(11/11)
David Grenache 2011 Swartland, South
Africa
From Lammershoek. 35% whole bunch fermentation. Sweet, ripe
meaty aromatics, with lovely cherry and berry fruit. The palate is
fresh with some elegance and nice cherry and plum fruit. Proper
Grenache with lovely freshness and nice structure. 90–93/100
(11/11)
2011 red blend (no name yet)
Two Shiraz blocks from Paardeberg and Riebeek Mountain, plus
Swartland Carignan and Lammershoek Grenache. Small proportion of
whole bunches. Very nice aromatic purity here: ripe, pure with
cherry and berry fruits. The palate is fresh, pure and bright with
lovely fruit and real elegance. Very stylish. 91–94/100
(11/11)
Lemberg Pinotage 2010, Tulbagh, South
Africa
Final blend. Fresh, pure assertive berry fruits nose. Very nice
grippy, fruit-driven palate. Real purity with good structure. Quite
powerful but still fresh. 90–92/100
(11/11)
THE
SWARTLAND REVOLUTION
Part 1: Dinner at Callie's
on the Porseleinberg
Part 2: Lammershoek
Part 3: Photos of
Lammershoek
Part 4: Intellego
Part 5: Testalonga
Part 6: Eben Sadie
and a Columella vertical tasting
Part 7: Mullineux
Family Wines
Part 8: Tobias/Bryan McRoberts
Wines
tasted 11/11
Find these wines with wine-searcher.com
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