Descripción

Palladius es la joya de la corona blanca de Eben Sadie, un vino de culto que encapsula el alma indómita de Swartland. Elaborado a partir de un complejo puzle de 11 variedades procedentes de viñedos viejos —algunos de hasta 85 años— sobre suelos de granito y arenisca, este blanco huye de la estandarización. Su fermentación espontánea en ánforas y huevos de hormigón, seguida de una crianza respetuosa, entrega una experiencia sensorial profunda. Un vino vibrante, mineral y de producción limitadísima, diseñado para quienes buscan la expresión más pura y honesta del nuevo Cabo.

Ficha técnica

La bodega
The Sadie Family Wines
Tipo
Blanco
Añada
2022
Grado
13.5% vol.
Variedad
Chenin blanc, Grenache blanc, Clairette blanche, Viognier, Verdelho, Roussanne, Marsanne, Semillon gris, Semillon blanc, Palomino, Colombard
Origen
Swartland
Certificación
EU Organic Bio

Opinión de los críticos

The Wine Advocate:

 

I am a white wine fanatic, and this very special wine blew me away. The Sadie Family's 2022 Swartland Palladius is a blend of 11 grapes from 17 distinct vineyard sites with old vines. The grapes used are Chenin Blanc, Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Verdelho, Roussanne, Marsanne, Semillon Gris, Sémillon, Palomino and Colombard. The various vineyards are located in Paardeberg, Piketberg and Saint Helena Bay. "This is the most complex wine and difficult to make," says Eben Sadie. "A white wine needs to achieve more than a red."

James Suckling:

This is an impressively layered and complex white, the result of a blend of 11 varietals from 17 vineyards across the Swartland. Aromas of jack fruit, sliced pear, green papaya, flint, grapefruit and hazelnut are all in play, followed by a full-bodied palate with a caressing and supple texture. Seamless, evolving to spices after a while. Even better than 2021? A blend of chenin blanc, grenache blanc, clairette blanche, viognier, verdelho, roussanne, marsanne, semillon gris, semillon blanc, palomino and colombard, all vinified separately. Try after 2025.

Decanter:

Waxy and slightly closed initially with a touch of lime pith, this slowly opens out into ripe pear, green peach, pomelo and sesame seed. There’s a discreet, almost covert acidity woven into the core, which bodes well for its long-term evolution, and the finish is long and mouthcoating. As Eben Sadie himself admits, Palladius has been his most difficult wine to figure out, but the contribution of dry-farmed viticulture adopted following the droughts, and the contribution of drought-resistant, next-generation varieties have helped enormously. This comprises fruit from 24 vineyards, embracing 11 different varieties and is based on Chenin Blanc, with Grenache Blanc, Clairette Blanche, Viognier, Verdelho, Roussanne, Marsanne, Semillon Gris, Semillon Blanc, Palomino and Colombard. Of all Sadie’s wines, Palladius is the most introverted and needs cellar time and plenty of air. It ferments with natural yeasts in concrete and, after one year, goes into old foudres for another 12 months.