Sadie Family Columella 2008
Vineyards
Swartland, Western Cape
Winemaking and Maturation
Hand sorting each berry for the entire production in small “strawberry” cases. Fermentation in 2000 litre open wooden fermenters. Fermentation is about three weeks at a temperature of 24 °C, followed by maceration after fermentation for another three weeks. Pressing occurs in an old basket press, and the wine is transferred directly to the barrel for malolactic fermentation.
Oaking: French oak barrels, Bordeaux Traditional selection. Tight grain. The wine ages for 18 months on the lees, followed by a rack and an additional six months of ageing on the fine lees. The total time spent is two years.
Tasting Notes
“The 2008 Columella is a vintage of mere perfection regarding the climatic conditions we enjoyed. The wine has an amazing complexity and composure and is already very well balanced at this young stage. The aromatic flavours in this vintage are very spicy and mineral. Notes of earthy character. Extreme violet and perfume aromatics and anise are to be found on the aromas. The palate is solid and the wine has seemingly impenetrable dense but dry-silky tannins as well as a very good acidity that brings great drinking about and also suggests that this 2008 will be on to age very well” – Eben Sadie
Technical Details
Composition: Syrah (80%), Mourvedre (20%)
