Sadie Family Citrusdal Mountain Skurfberg 2021

Sadie Family Citrusdal Mountain Skurfberg is a dry Chenin Blanc from ninety-year-old ungrafted bush vines.

Basie van Lill farms the vines behind this wine, ungrafted bush vines planted between 1940 and 1955 on the decomposed red sandstone slopes of the Skurfberg, whose name means rigid mountain. They have never seen a herbicide or a chemical fertiliser. The district, on the west bank of the Olifants River, is the northernmost in South Africa and thoroughly arid, which makes it remarkable that the wines carry the texture and freshness they do, a point Eben Sadie makes himself. Handling is minimal: whole bunches to the basket press, then old casks for natural fermentation, twelve months on lees, blending, and a return to the same casks before bottling straight from foudre.

Full but dry, with dried pear, quince, lanolin and a long chalky finish, the acidity holding everything taut. Serve at 12 degrees. It handles roast chicken, pork belly, or a bowl of ramen; equally good with a wedge of aged cheddar.

*Every effort is made to ensure the current vintage is accurate; however, variations can occur. If you are after a specific vintage, please contact us prior to ordering.