Sonvang
2024
Region
South Africa › Western Cape › WO Swartland
Type
red · still
Grapes
Pontac, Tinta Barroca, Trincadeira, Agiorgitiko, Garnacha tinta, Pinotage, Garnacha peluda, Alicante Henri Bouschet, Trousseau, Cinsault, Cariñena, Counoise
Alcohol
14%
Volume
750 mL
Sugar
1.2 g/L
Tasting Notes
New wine from Sadie - a maiden vintage, and what a debut. Twelve grape varieties co-planted on Paardeberg's western slope, all chosen to brace for climate change. The result is a beautifully complex blend that absolutely needs time - hide it for at least five years, ideally more. Right now it's a coiled spring; after an hour in the decanter it was still lunging at everyone around the table. But damn, how beautiful it is. Cornelian cherry, sour cherry, night flowers, fried sunflower seeds, sesame, a touch of herbs. Tannins are powdery and firm yet elegant. Concentrated, vivid, lively, multilayered, and utterly delicious.
About
Maiden vintage. Sonvang ("Sun Catch") is a co-planted vineyard on the western slope of Paardeberg in Swartland, soaking up afternoon sun - hence the name. Twelve grape varieties planted together, chosen for resilience to future climate change. The concept: "the whole is greater than the sum of its parts" (Aristotle). Fermented with 30% whole clusters and 70% destemmed, 25 - 30 days on skins, pressed in an old basket press. Aged 11 months on lees in concrete tanks and older foudres (neutral, no wood flavour). 65 mg/L sulphur at bottling, bottled from fine lees. Multiple picks for now - the long-term goal is a single co-fermented harvest once the vineyard is fully understood.
