David & Nadia Aristargos 2022
Type: White
Country: South Africa
Region: Swartland
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Semillon, Clairette
Viticulture: Certified Organic
Climate: Warm and dry summers, cool and damp winters
Terroir: Chenin blanc from shallow shale soils in the Paardeberg and iron-rich clay soils to the west of Malmesbury is also added along with Viognier, Marsanne, Roussanne, Verdelho and Grenache blanc from iron-rich clay, lateral shale soils. For the first time, Colombard was also added. Planting dates vary from 1960 until 2013
Winemaking: The grapes were whole-bunch-pressed and naturally fermented and then matured for 11 months in old neutral French oak barrels. The grapes from the two Sémilllon vineyards were fermented on their skins for a week before being pressed and matured in a very old 2 500 L foudre for a year. The Colombard was also fermented on the skins (for 5 days) and matured in an old oak barrel. One Chenin blanc component was fermented and matured in a concrete egg. In total the grapes from 17 different vineyards were used, picked on 23 different dates
Color: Pale golden
Nose: The nose shows a hint of reduction before stone fruit, dried herbs, a little waxy character, earth and spice
Palate: The palate has great depth and texture. Layers of flavour, nicely integrated acidity and a gently savoury 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.
