David & Nadia Sadie, Grenache Swartland 2017

95 points Tim Atkin
"One of a handful of Grenaches that are finally establishing the variety’s claim to greatness in the Cape, this comes from the Paardeberg and Malmesbury. Pale and graceful, with restrained alcohol, some whole bunch spice and fine-grained tannins. Brilliant winemaking."

93 points Vinous
"The 2017 Grenache comes from two dry-farmed vineyards and saw three-and-a-half weeks’ skin contact, including 30% to 50% whole bunches, the remainder destemmed but not crushed, then matured in used oak for 12 months. It has a perfumed bouquet of mineral-rich cranberry and crushed strawberry aromas, very detailed and focused. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied, with sappy red berry fruit laced with white pepper and clove, leading into a natural, white-pepper-infused finish that lingers in the mouth. Classic Swartland Grenache."

92 points Falstaff magazine
"Medium cherry red, delicate ocher reflections, broadly lightened. Ripe berry fruit with a delicate floral background, a hint of mint and ethereal nuances, spicy notes. Slim, red berry, some cardamom, present tannins that give good freshness, mineral and adhesive, extract-sweet aftertaste, some nougat and lemon in the aftertaste. Exciting style."

Jancis Robinson
"From two vineyards. On skins for four weeks, up to 50% whole bunch. Spends a year in 500-litre barrels.
Transparent garnet. Very fresh, grainy and a sweet start – really lively. So appetising! Really textured and super-fresh. Long and satisfying. Both juicy and chewy. Nadia and David may ‘get concrete involved’ in the future. But it almost tastes grainy enough to have been made in concrete. 18/20 points."

Vinous Reverie Notes
Winery: David & Nadia is a family owned Swartland driven project and we focus on a spectrum of organic, old and dry land bush vine vineyards from different areas with different soil types throughout the Swartland, farmed by like-minded people. We are members of the Swartland Independent Producers. In the vineyard we aim for biological farming and in the cellar we work as natural as possible. It is all about the soil and vineyards after all. We believe in a pure, fresh and natural style where site and soil are at work with minimal influence from a winemaking point of view. Grenache 2018 One Paardeberg sustainably farmed vineyard planted in the early 2000’s is responsible for the core of this wine, blended with a similarly aged organically certified vineyard planted in deep rich clay soils, north of Malmesbury. Grenache as our ultimate red variety shows once again why this variety is well suited to the Swartland in its droughts and harsh conditions. Four weeks on the skins pre-/during fermentation, 60% whole bunches, one punch down per day, minimum and gentle extraction. Pressed off and matured in old 500 L neutral French oak barrels for a year.