Tim Atkin (97/100)
"More north than Magnetic North," says Eben Saide, teasing his friend Chris Alheit, whose equally famous wine comes from an adjacent parcel on similarly red, mineral-rich sandstone soils. Rich, dense, layered and complex, it's a Chenin Blanc with mouth-watering acidity, flavours of lemon zest and green apple and wafts of wildflowers and ocean breezes.
James Suckling (96/100)
Papayas, stones, apricots, chopped apples, hazelnuts and some rosemary on the nose. It’s compact and creamy, with a full body but lots of stony minerality, plus phenolic grip and texture. Salty and intense at the end. Chenin blanc planted on weathered limestone with high iron content.
R. Parker (96/100)
The Sadie Family 2024 Citrusdal Mountain Die Distriksreeks Skurfberg is a beautifully linear Chenin Blanc marked by crystalline salinity, mineral precision and high-elevation freshness. Notes of citrus peel and wet stone ride a focused, tightly wound palate that emphasizes purity. "We don't want to add things to our wines, but we don't want to subtract either," says proprietor Eben Sadie. Drawn from 65-year-old vines on iron and quartz-rich sandstone soils high on the Skurfberg plateau, this wine captures the tension and altitude-driven clarity that define the site. This is one of the most intriguing wines in this excellent portfolio.