2015 Skurfberg
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Tasting notes
(from decomposed sandstone vineyards planted between 1940 and 1955; three parcels were vinified separately, then fermented with wild yeasts and aged in a large, old oak foudre and concrete): Straw-yellow. Sexy perfume of peach, orange blossom, flowers, nutmeg and nut oil, plus a suggestion of redcurrant. Wonderfully broad, fine-grained and concentrated yet light on its feet, displaying superb richness and depth but no impression of weightiness. The wine's umami quality and stony minerality remind me a bit of Chablis, but the flavors are totally different, conveying powerful site specificity. The lightly dusty but fine finish goes on and on. This classically dry, rather wild wine is a bit austere today and built to age. It will probably be most prized by adventuresome tasters.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2015 Old Vine Series Skurfberg, Eben Sadie's pure Chenin Blanc was picked late afternoon and driven to the winery through the night when it is cooler. It offers attractive aromas of lanolin, nutmeg, nectarine and peach skin, well defined and gaining intensity all the time with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, smoked walnut, bitter lemon and a pinch of white pepper, developing more and more intensity with time. This is sublime.
About the producer
Since he started making wine under his own name in 2000, Eben Sadie became a cult name in South Africa. The Swartland producer is best known for his flagship Columella and Palladius, but he also makes a range of whites and reds under the Old Vine Series, which became the District Series in 2025.