The Sadie Family - Columella - Assemblage 2021
The Sadie Family Estate is located in the Swartland region of South Africa . Before his career as a winemaker and after a period as a surfer, Eben Sadie traveled and worked in several wine regions around the world, including Germany, Austria, Italy, Oregon and Burgundy. Returning to South Africa, he found employment alongside Charles Back at The Spice Route in 1998. The Sadie Family was founded in 1999, with the first two vintages produced at The Spice Route facilities. The company consists of three employees, in addition to Eben Sadie, his brother and sister and the vineyards extend over some 24 hectares, including mountainous plots and coastal plains. Due to the diversity of terroirs, a wide range of grape varieties can be planted, such as Palomino, Tinta Barroca or Sémillon. All vineyards are managed according to the principles of organic and biodynamic viticulture . Different fermentation tanks are used in the cellar: from classic oak barrels and tuns to concrete amphorae or ovoid tanks.
Columella is a blend of Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault and Tinta Barocca , grown on soils composed of granite, slate, gravel and sandstone. Fermentation begins spontaneously in open 3,300 liter vats and lasts for 3 days. Post-fermentation vatting is carried out for an additional 3 weeks. The wine is transferred to fine-grained French oak barrels , 5% of which are new, where aging lasts 12 months on lees . It is drawn into tuns for additional aging for an additional year .
Grape varieties: Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, Carignan, Cinsault, Tinta Barocca