2023 Sadie Family Chenin Blanc "Rotsbank", Swartland, South Africa

ABOUT THIS WINE

Rotsbank is one of eight single-vineyard Chenin Blancs in Eben Sadie’s Ouwingerdreeks (Old Vine Series), each sourced from historically significant dry-farmed bush vines across the Cape. The 2023 Rotsbank comes from a vineyard planted in 1966 on Paardeberg foothill soils composed of decomposed shale and granite—its name, “Rotsbank” (Afrikaans for “rock bench”), refers to the fractured bedrock that defines the site’s identity.

Farming is entirely non-interventionist and certified under South Africa’s Old Vine Project. Grapes are hand-harvested early in the morning, pressed whole-bunch, and fermented spontaneously in old foudres and clay amphorae. No enzymes, fining, or new oak are used. The wine rests on lees for 11 months before bottling with minimal sulfur and no filtration.

The 2023 vintage was marked by a moderate growing season and cool harvest window, resulting in wines of exceptional balance, purity, and phenolic precision. Rotsbank expresses a focused core of citrus and stone fruit, layered with flinty reduction, green almond, and a savory, salty finish. It is less about overt fruit and more about soil and structure—built for quiet contemplation and long aging (10–15 years).

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

The Sadie Family Wines, founded by Eben Sadie in 1999, is widely regarded as South Africa’s most influential modern winery—one that reshaped the narrative of Cape wines through authenticity, ancient vines, and uncompromising detail. Based in the Swartland, Eben’s philosophy centers on dry-farmed bush vines, minimal intervention, and an obsessive respect for site and soil.

The Ouwingerdreeks series was created to honor South Africa’s viticultural heritage, showcasing single vineyards—often over 60 years old—planted long before the modern wine boom. Each wine is an archaeological and cultural preservation act as much as a vinous one.

Farming is holistic and regenerative, with no synthetic inputs. In the cellar, Sadie employs traditional techniques—gentle pressing, ambient ferments, old barrels, and extended élevage—always letting the vineyard speak. His wines, whether Chenin Blanc, Tinta Barocca, or Palomino, are internationally lauded for their finesse, restraint, and terroir fidelity.

Rotsbank is one of the most mineral and austere in the lineup—an eloquent ambassador of the Swartland’s quiet, stony grandeur.