David & Nadia Grenache 2020 / 2022
Type: Red
Country: South Africa
Region: Swartland
Grape Variety: 100% Pinotage
Viticulture: Certified Organic
Climate: Warm and dry summers, cool and damp winters
Terroir: Sourced from four Grenache Noir vineyards (a vineyard from the Paardeberg planted in the early 2000s; a Paardeberg vineyard recently planted on the north-eastern side of the Langkloof valley which overlooks the Aprilskloof; a 2016 planted vineyard in schist of the Kasteelberg; and a vineyard north of Malmesbury) with granite, iron and schist soils
Winemaking: A component of the wine was fermented and matured in concrete. The juice was kept on the skins for four weeks pre-/during fermentation and 60% whole bunches were used. One punch down per day was done resulting in minimal and gentle extraction. The wine was pressed off and matured in old 500 L neutral French oak barrels as well as a 2 700 L concrete vessel for a year
Color: Ruby red
Nose: Pretty nose of dried lavender, raspberries, currants, plum stones, liquorice and lemon peel
Palate: Medium-bodied with sleek tannins and vibrant acidity. Fresh, bright and pure
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.
