David & Nadia new releases

David Sadie of Swartland-based husband-and-wife winemaking team David & Nadia says of the 2020 vintage that bar some flowering issues due to wind which resulted in a smaller crop and bigger canopies, it was generally good. “Good rains during the preceding winter and no heatwaves in the lead-up to harvest.” Tasting notes and ratings as follows:

David & Nadia Aristargos 2020
Price: R370
49% Chenin Blanc, 10% Roussanne, 9% Semillon, 8% Marsanne, 7% Clairette Blanche, 6% Viognier, 5% Verdelho, 4% Grenache Blanc and, for the first time, 2% Colombard – nine varieties drawn from 17 different vineyards and involving 23 pickings. The nose shows a hint of reduction before stone fruit, dried herbs, a little waxy character, earth and spice while the palate has great depth and texture for a wine with an alcohol of just 12.5%. Layers of flavour, nicely integrated acidity and a gently savoury finish.

CE’s rating: 95/100.

David & Nadia Chenin Blanc 2020
Price: R370
This wine, incorporating grapes from seven separate vineyards on various soils with planting dates ranging from 1968 to 1985, just gets more and more refined. The nose shows pear, peach and citrus to go with potpourri and a touch of flinty reduction. The palate, meanwhile, is pure and concentrated with lively acidity and a saline finish. Each component part combining seamlessly, the end-result is a wine of particular poise and luminosity.

CE’s rating: 96/100.  

David & Nadia Grenache Noir 2020
Price: R370
Now incorporating four vineyards, the core still from the Paardeberg. 60% whole-bunch fermentation while maturation lasted 12 months, half in concrete and half in older 500-litre barrels. Charming aromatics of red cherry, plums, musk, fynbos, white pepper and a little undergrowth. The palate is not quite as light and fleeting as previous vintages and that much the better for it – good depth of fruit, snappy acidity and fine tannins, the finish gently savoury.

CE’s rating: 94/100.

David & Nadia Elpidios 2019
Price: R370
38% Grenache Noir, 36% Syrah, 10% Pinotage, 9% Carignan and 7% Cinsaut – an unusual blend with unusual aromatics and flavours. An exotic mélange of red and black berries, earth, olive, incense and even a touch of mint on the nose while the palate is rich and full with moderate acidity and smooth tannins. Loads of flavour, the finish super-savoury.

CE’s rating: 92/100.

Check out our South African wine ratings database.

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