David Sadie
Visiting South Africa's Swartland wine region, Part 6

Website: www.davidsadie.co.za

David Sadie

While I was out at the Swartland Revolution, I met up with David Sadie, who of course shares a famous name with the most famous of all Swartland winegrowers (apparently they are not related). David Sadie grew up in the Swartland and is now based in Tulbagh, where he makes Lemberg’s wines. He also makes wines under his own label, ‘David’, and has recently been accepted as a member of the Swartland Independent.

Sadie is currently trying to take a more natural approach at Lemberg, a winery on the up since it was purchased by Henk du Bruyn in 2007. And this year Sadiehas increased the production of his own brand to 4000 bottles.

Sadie focuses on freshness and texture. ‘For me, natural freshness and acidity is valuable’, he says. These are lovely wines and this is a producer to watch.

THE WINES

David Chenin Blanc 2011
From 2 vineyards, one in Paardeberg and one in Riebeek Mountain. Fresh, fine and expressive with notes of mineral, herb, apple and pear. Very fine and expressive. 92–94/100

David Aristargos 2010 Swartland, South Africa
51% Chenin, 39% Viognier, 10% Verdelho. Aromatic and rich with lovely, lively ripe melon and white peach fruit. Textured but lively with great concentration allied with finesse. 93/100 (tasted 05/11)

David Aristargos 2011 Swartland, South Africa
A white blend that’s mostly Swartland with some Paarl. 40% Chenin, with the balance 20% each of Roussanne, Viogner and Grenache Blanc. Fermented in older oak. Nice richness and depth with white peach and pear fruit. Good texture, but still fresh with lovely precision. A lovely wine. 92–94/100

Lemberg Viognier 2011 Tulbagh, South Africa
David’s first attempt at making a more natural wine at Lemberg. Rich yet fresh with peach and pear notes. Good varietal character with lovely fruit. 90–91/100

David Grenache 2011 Swartland, South Africa
From Lammershoek. 35% whole bunch fermentation. Sweet, ripe meaty aromatics, with lovely cherry and berry fruit. The palate is fresh with some elegance and nice cherry and plum fruit. Proper Grenache with lovely freshness and nice structure. 90–93/100

2011 red blend (no name yet)
Two Shiraz blocks from Paardeberg and Riebeek Mountain, plus Swartland Carignan and Lammershoek Grenache. Small proportion of whole bunches. Very nice aromatic purity here: ripe, pure with cherry and berry fruits. The palate is fresh, pure and bright with lovely fruit and real elegance. Very stylish. 91–94/100

Lemberg Pinotage 2010, Tulbagh, South Africa
Final blend. Fresh, pure assertive berry fruits nose. Very nice grippy, fruit-driven palate. Real purity with good structure. Quite powerful but still fresh. 90–92/100

THE SWARTLAND REVOLUTION
Part 1: Dinner at Callie's on the Porseleinberg
Part 2: Lammershoek  
Part 3: Photos of Lammershoek
Part 4: Intellego
Part 5: Testalonga
Part 6: Eben Sadie and a Columella vertical tasting
Part 7: Mullineux Family Wines
Part 8: Tobias/Bryan McRoberts

Wines tasted 11/11  
Find these wines with wine-searcher.com

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