Highlights: David & Nadia Grenache 2018 Swartland, South Africa

Grenache has a good future in the Western Cape, I reckon. David and Nadia Sadie are making some really impressive wines, with a gentle touch on extraction with the reds, and this is a beautiful expression of Grenache. The issue is: there just isn’t enough of it planted. There are just 480 hectares planted, although that figure has more than doubled in the last decade. Let’s see more please!

David & Nadia Grenache 2018 Swartland, South Africa
13% alcohol. This comes from their own Paardeberg vineyard, planted in the early 2000s, plus two other organic vineyards in Malmesbury. It’s 60% whole bunch, and matured in 500 litre used barrels for a year. Pale red in colour. This is so elegant and lightly extracted, with cherries, cranberries, raspberries and dried herbs. There’s some warmth to the palate, too, with sweet strawberry fruit and subtle hints of tar and gravel. Very fine and textural, showing amazing drinkability. Has a sweetness to the fruit. 93/100 (JG) (£20 from Justerini & Brooks)

From early 2000s planted Paadreberg and Malmesbusy vineyards, primarily organic, this was 60% whole bunch fermented before aging 1 year in old 500L barrels. Light and graceful, with a whisper of tannins holding wild raspberry, wild strawberry, cherry leather across a taut 13% palate. Tannins are soft and sticky, hugging this through the lingering kirsch-licked finish. Lovely finesse throughout this fresh, new wave Grenache. 92/100 (TR)

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