David & Nadia Elpidios 2019 / 2020
Type: Red
Country: South Africa
Region: Swartland
Grape Variety: 100% Pinotage
Viticulture: Certified Organic
Climate: Warm and dry summers, cool and damp winters
Terroir: Grapes from seven different Swartland vineyards are used, focusing on schist and granite soils of the mountains of the Swartland
Winemaking: 30 – 50% whole bunches are sorted and then used in the bottom of an open tank. The rest of the grapes are all sorted, destemmed but not crushed and added to the tank on top of the whole bunches. Maximum healthy pre-ferment cold soak with a daily punch down and CO2 gas coverage is maintained. Spontaneous fermentation occurs in the tank and we allow maximum extended skin contact (approximately 4 weeks in total). Grapes are gently pressed and drained to old French oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. Wines are matured in barrel for seventeen months
Color: Transparent garnet red
Nose: Brambleberries, blueberries, crushed stones, orange zest, pink peppercorns and dried roses on the nose
Palate: Medium-to full-bodied with firm, very fine tannins. Layered, textured and mineral with a vibrant, wild finish
About the Winery:
David and Nadia Sadie met at the University of Stellenbosch when he shifted his focus to viticulture after a rugby injury sidelined him from his first love. David went on to work vintages around the world, from Marlborough to St. Emilion, before finally landing back in South Africa. He eventually took over the cellar in the Swartland where Andrea and Chris Mullineux used to make wine prior to their purchase of Roundstone Farm and restored it in 2014.
His wife Nadia joined him in 2016 and it’s been a family affair ever since. Nadia oversees viticulture for their project and manages the vineyards that they lease. She employs biological farming, which is to say she avoids the use of any herbicides, plants cover crops and she’s begun experimenting with a conversion to organics. Together, David & Nadia make high-acid, textured wines that have cemented them as one of the most highly regarded wineries in the Swartland.
