Sadie Family Kokerboom 2023 750ml

Named after the South African quiver tree that looks like a giant succulent from a Jurassic age, The Sadie Family’s 2023 Citrusdal Mountain Old Vine Series Kokerboom is a blend of Semillon Blanc and the pink-hued Semillon Gris from vines dating back to the first half of the 1900s. This wine, as you would expect, has a weighty feel, lots of volume and a viscous texture, but it stops short of feeling too heavy or cloying. Fruit ripens easily in this location given the high solar radiation. In fact, there is a lot of energy here, despite the waxy sensations and the unruly intensity that comes forth as petroleum jelly, honey, saffron and apricot. It ages in an old foudre for 12 months, like most of the whites in this portfolio, and grapes come from a site with weathered Table Mountain sandstone and a high iron content. Given the remote location of this vineyard, it takes four hours to drive the harvested grapes back to the winery. When they arrive in the evening, they are put into a cold room for the night. Production is around 4,000 bottles, and the wine was first produced in 2009.

• Country: South Africa
• Region: Olifants River
• Size: 750ml
• Color: White
• Alcohol by Vol: 14.5%

Varietal

Semillon

Semillon was, at one point not so long ago, widely believed to be one of the most grown grape varietals in the world. Whilst today the numbers of Semillon grapes has dropped considerably, it remains a widely planted grape with vineyards all over Europe and the New World dedicated to making the most of this special and flavorful varietal. The grapes are recognizable by their golden color, and the fact that they can take on a pinkish hue in particularly warm climates. The wines the Semillon grape produces are notably varied, and are often very crisp and dry, or sweet and soft, full of a wide range of flavors Commonly, dry Semillon wines are particularly citrus in flavor, with a delicate and summery bouquet. The vine is hardy and vigorous, and notable for being easy to grow and produce high yields from.