The Sadie Family - Palladius Assembly 2017
Swartland
Eben Sadie has extensive international experience working in Austria, Germany, Italy, Oregon and Burgundy. Upon his return to South Africa, he is an oenologist at the Spice Route estate under the direction of Charles Back, where he will become cellar master a few years later. In 2003, in partnership with Cornell Spies, he created Sequillo, which is often considered his second label.
In 2004, still in partnership, he founded "Terroir Al Limit" in the region of Priorat in Spain. In 2011, the estate will be vandalized and the tanks will be emptied before being contaminated by bleach, which will lead Eben Sadie to devote himself to his vineyard.
The Sadie Family sources grapes exclusively in the Swartland region, one of the hottest wine regions in South Africa. However, all its wines, both white and red, are perfectly controlled alcohol levels and show no heaviness. He owns no vineyard (he has his own philosophy on the property). Its supplies come from 48 plots spread over 43 hectares.
All parcels are biodynamically cultivated and yields are extremely low (about 600 grams of grapes per foot). Eben's philosophy is very European. He does not like the term 'winemaker'. "Until recently," he says, "that word did not exist. We used the word vigneron. When you participate in the development of great wines you must get out of the manufacturing process. If you "make" wine you lose the definition of soils.
Palladius: It is the blending of a dozen grape varieties (Chenin Blanc, White Grenache, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Verdelho, Roussanne, Marsanne, Semillon Gris, Semillon Blanc and Palomino) which gives this wine its aromatic complexity. . But none dominates and the wine is in perfect aromatic harmony. The grapes for the production of this wine come from vineyards planted on granitic and gravelly soils located on the mountain of Paardeberg. There is also a touch of exoticism mingling with more classic flavors and flavors such as lime, hay and almonds. The whole is limpid, harmonious and of great drinkability.
