The Sadie Family Columella 2015

HARVEST & VINTAGE NOTES

Vineyards: Paardeberg (3), Kasteelberg (3), Malmesbury (1), Piquetberg (1). Yield of 18–24hl/ha; avg. vine age: 18 yrs.  

Soils: Granite, Slate, Gravel & Sandstone formations

Vinification: Berries are hand sorted. Spontaneous fermentation in open concrete fermenters took 3 weeks at 24°C; Maceration of 3 weeks. No additions are made. Pressed in basket press. Transferred to barrel for malolactic fermentation.

Ageing: 1yr on lees in tight-grain French oak, 10% new. Racked into oval casks (foudres) for 1 yr of maturation on the fine lees. After 2 years, the wine is bottled without fining or filtration. 

Notes: The 2015 is in many ways the coming together of an array of elements and a strong expression of Sadie’s quest to produce a wine that will be as true to the region as possible, rather than one that expresses personal references. This wine is a bit more inverted and austere and deeply earthed; and it speaks more of this place. The wine is “grounded” and it is only after a while in the glass that the perfume flavours with an underlying dark graphite edge start to take over the initial,
very earthy flavours. The tannins are tightly coiled up and the wine honestly just needs time and patience. It has a very good overall equilibrium and good acidity. From the 2010 harvest onwards the Columella wines need more time, or decantation for at least 2 hours if opened prior to 5 years of age.

WINEMAKER: Eben Sadie
GRAPES: Interplanted Syrah,
Mourvedre, Grenache, Tinta Barroca, Cinsaut and Carignan
ALCOHOL: 14%
PH: 3.45
TOTAL ACIDITY: 5.4 g/L
TOTAL SULPHUR: 90 mg/L
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 2.1 g/L
ANNUAL PRODUCTION:
1,580 cases x 6/750ml