James Suckling (97/100)
Beautifully bright red-cherry, strawberry, licorice, redbush-tea and burnt-orange aromas give this so much joy. It’s medium-bodied, lithe and fresh, with red fruit in the forefront and just a touch of earthy spice. Very fine, seamless tannins. Grenache, with about 60% whole-cluster fermentation. Delightful already, but will keep improving.
R. Parker (95/100)
The Sadie Family 2023 Citrusdal Mountain Old Vine Series Soldaat comes from the remote Piekenierskloof area, which again sees weathered Table Mountain sandstone formations. Winemaking starts in concrete tanks that are partially filled with whole clusters (about 30%) and topped off with destemmed fruit in order to get some juice in the vats and to activate the yeasts. Fermentation lasts about 30 days on the skins, and an old basket press is used. The wine only sees concrete for 12 months. This graceful Grenache is beautifully nuanced with wild berry aromas, blue flower and a chiseled point of rusty nail or iron ore that adds high-toned elegance, bordering on fragility.