David & Nadia Hoë-Steen Chenin Blanc 2017

By 2017, the drought was tightening its grip in the Swartland and this seems to show in the wines of David & Nadia Sadie, many of the wines lacking the same concentration of previous vintages. This is not to say that what’s on offer is massively diminished rather that vintage variation is a very real thing.

Topography series

David & Nadia Topography Semillon 2017
Vinification involved one week of skin contact. Some potpourri and herbs before citrus and yellow peach. Good concentration, tangy acidity and some phenolic grip on the finish lending interest. Some oxidative character only adds interest.

Editor’s rating: 91/100.

David & Nadia Topography Pinotage 2017
Red cherry and some floral perfume. Juicy and fresh with a little spice on the finish but generally quite soft tannins. Fun to drink but not nearly as compelling as previous vintages.

Editor’s rating: 89/100.

David & Nadia Topography Chenin Blanc 2017 previously reviewed here.

David & Nadia series

David & Nadia Chenin Blanc 2017
From seven different Swartland vineyards. An elusive nose of pear, peach, hay and dried herbs. The palate is light and fresh with a pithy finish. Delicate and exceptionally restrained at this stage.

Editor’s rating: 92/100.

David & Nadia Aristargos 2017
58% Chenin Blanc, 14% Viognier, 13% Viognier, 7% Semillon, 5% Roussanne and 3% Marsanne (the latter variety appearing for the first time).  Pear, white peach, lemon and naartjie plus a slight waxy note. Concentrated fruit and fresh acidity. Not without weight or texture but less striking than 2016.

Editor’s rating: 94/100.

David & Nadia Grenache 2017
Top notes of fynbos and fresh herbs plus a sort of pink sweet dustiness before red cherry and cranberry. Light bodied with lemon-like acidity and fine tannins, the finish gently savoury. Very likeable but arguably a little insubstantial.

Editor’s rating: 90/100.

David & Nadia Elpidios 2016
34% Carignan, 33% Syrah, 14% Cinsault, 14% Pinotage and 5% Grenache. Red and black cherries, plums, earth and spice on the nose. Relatively dense with bright acidity and tannins which are smooth in the best sense. Flavourful and appealing.

Editor’s rating: 91/100.

Single Vineyard series

David & Nadia Hoë-Steen Chenin Blanc 2017
From a 1968 vineyard (Chenin Blanc in the main but interplanted with other varieties as was the custom of the time) and if the bigger-volume wines are slightly below par because of the drought, this most definitely is not. A subtle but utterly compelling nose of pear, white peach, citrus, hay and yellow earth. The palate displays extraordinary fruit concentration with an invigorating line of acidity, a slight bitterness to the finish merely an extra point of detail. Intricate, harmonious, long – an absolute must-buy for any serious collector.

Editor’s rating: 97/100.

David & Nadia Skaliekop Chenin Blanc 2017
From a 1985 vineyard. Grows in stature with each new vintage. Naartjie, stone fruit, fynbos and spice on the nose. Relatively rich and broad on the palate but with more tangy acidity than previous vintages. Nice texture and weight, the finish nicely savoury – full of personality.

Editor’s rating: 95/100.

Prices to be confirmed.

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