Sadie Family Skurfberg 2022

Details

This extraordinary 100% chenin blanc hails from South Africa’s northernmost wine region; the arid Citrusdal Mountain WO, on the west bank of the Olifants River. Specifically, the fruit is drawn from Basie van Lill’s 90-year-old, ungrafted bush vines on the decomposed, red sandstone slopes of the Skurfberg (which means ‘rigid mountain’). Planted between 1940 and 1955, these immaculately farmed vines have never been treated with herbicides or chemical fertilizers. “It is a truly great site for Chenin, and it is most unusual that such a warm and dry area still produces wines with this enormous texture and freshness,” says winemaker Eben Sadie.

The chenin is whole-bunch basket-pressed, then transferred to old casks for natural fermentation. Following 12 months on lees, the wine is blended, then returned to the same casks before being bottled directly from foudre. The result is a tension-fuelled wine that can easily stand up to the greatest chenins of the Loire—a wine of jaw-dropping texture, mineral energy and complexity.

“The 2022 Skurfberg is pure Chenin Blanc from Citrusdal Mountains at 640m altitude, whole bunch pressed into old foudres. It has a pristine bouquet with yellow plum, crushed rock and a touch of lanolin, with hints of orange blossom coming through with time. The palate is lightly spiced on the entry with touches of stem ginger and a perfect line of acidity, gently building in the mouth towards an entrancing livewire finish that lingers long in the mouth. Thrilling.”
98 points, Neal Martin, Vinous.

“Basie van Lill may have gone to the great vineyard in the sky this year (what a loss), but the farm that he made famous will live on in his family's hands. This was produced with an early pick from an 0.8-hectare parcel on red granite and iron soils, showing remarkable freshness, energy and precision, chiselled focus and the faintest whisper of old oak. A fitting tribute to a peerless grower.”
98 points, Tim Atkin MW, South Africa Report 2022.

Specifications