2017 Sadie Family Wines, Columella, Swartland, South Africa []

This 2017 Columella is the first of  Ehe drought years Eto be bottled and this very wine stands as evidence of the great stability to be achieved in a region with multiple varieties and vineyards planted in diverse sites. It shows that the greatest and most stable quality is to be achieved by a selection of vineyards rather than just one. The expression of a singular site has its place, but there is simply no better strategy than the combination of a bigger variety of terroirs to build up the most stable representation of our region. This wine is the result of 12 months ageing in barrels (8% new) and thereafter an additional 12 months in old, big oval casks. This 2017 vintage has incredible tension and density and is very much ‘locked in E The firmness of the wine suggests that it is a great keeper. It does exhibit amazing herbal, spicy and perfumed aromas and there is more than enough fruit  Ebut it is a highly-strung wine that needs time. The tannins are fine, powdery and almost silky with  lower acidity and more expanded palate than the 2014 and 2016. The wine is super-tight and will require at least 2 hours of decantation if opened prior to 5 years of age in the bottle. 

Review 27th April 2020 by Eben Sadie & Paul Jordaan:
Perplexing, in that there is almost no point of entry on the wine from an aromatic or taste aspect and the wine is still holding its cards to the chest. It does have some of the earthy aspects that were found in the early 2006 vintage. This wine is incredibly dry and restrained at this point but shouts of potential into the future. It will possibly develop into the same incredible complexities as was the case in the 2002 & 2004 vintage, but it needs the next 20 years to reveal itself.

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{region}Swartland{region}
{color}Red{color}                                                               {maturity}ready-improve{maturity} {maturity-text}Ready, but will improve{maturity-text}
{vintage}2017{vintage}
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