Sadie Family Swartland Treinspoor 2021

$145.00

The 2021 Treinspoor is Sadie’s Tinta Barocca that the man himself likens to Nebbiolo, also opining that it is a wine that needs considerable ageing. These vines were planted in 1974, and the blend includes 40% whole clusters. It has a complex, succinctly defined bouquet with melted tar and graphite infused dark berry fruit, a hint of Lapsang Souchong. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, perfectly-tuned acidity, almost Burgundian in texture yet with more pepperiness towards the finish. So elegant and harmonious – this is stunning from every angle you look at it. 96 points, Neal Martin, Vinous

I want to go even darker,” says Eben Sadie of this Tinta Barocca, which is a favoured red with the winemaking team. “People have had enough strawberry and raspberry.” This is inky, tarry and intense, with grippy tannins, layers of damson and black cherry, some steak tartare and a lift of spices from whole bunches. 2024-21. 95 points, Tim Atkin MW, South Africa Report 2022

Old Vine Series. “It’s a Swartland thing”, notes Sadie of Tinta Barocca (the S.A. spelling has only one ‘r’ and two ‘c’s). This variety arrived in South Africa from the Douro and has found an opportune home in the Western Cape. Historically Tinta das Baroccas (as it was once labelled) has always played a prominent role in Swartland’s red blends, but the interest in the variety—particularly from old, dry-grown vineyards—has really spiked in recent years.

This vineyard, planted in 1974 and located next to the old railway line (treinspoor), lies four kilometres west of Malmesbury on decomposed granite and sandstone. Sadie notes that while the very fragile, thin skin of Tinta Barocca is prone to sunburn, the old bush vines of this site keep the bunches sheltered from the intense Swartland sun. He likens his Treinspoor to a sort of stylistic cross between Northern Rhône Syrah (black cherry/blackcurrant/grenadine fruit, iodine and nettles) and Piemontese Nebbiolo, (spice, florals, acidity, and tannins): “It has Piedmont-like tannins and Northern Rhône aromatics” says Eben. Regardless, as you can read below, it’s an absolutely brilliant red. Fermented in concrete, with 50% whole bunches, and raised for 11 months in large cask, it is, like all Sadie wines, an outstanding, idiosyncratic red of great beauty, finesse and character.

 

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SKU: SFS001-21 Categories: , , Tag:

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