Sonvang, The Sadie Family Wines 2024

The maiden 2024 Sonvang, a field blend of varieties in Eben Sadie's nursery, certainly has one of the more exotic and out-there aromatics with scents of red fruit, hickory, struck flint… something almost volcanic about this. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant dark berry fruit, touches of white pepper, Provençal herbs and black truffle. Wonderfully balanced, granular in texture, insistent grip on the finish with a persistent finish, this is an outstanding debut. (Drink between 2027-2048)

A maiden vintage, The Sadie Family 2024 Swartland Die Distriksreeks Sonvang, or "sun catch," is wild, exotic and deeply savory, showing blood orange, fynbos, sage and subtle metallic-granite notes within an intentionally unpolished, expressive frame. Built from a complex co-planted field blend of Mediterranean varieties at roughly equal proportions, the wine emphasizes viticulture and site harmony over cellar manipulation. The grapes used are Alicante Bouschet, Agiorgitiko, Pontac, Bastardo do Castillo, Trincadeira, Tinta Barroca, Lledoner Pelut, Grenache Noir, Pinotage, Cinsault, Counoise and Carignan (with 30% whole-cluster fruit used in fermentation). From Paardeberg granite soils and shaped by years of careful vineyard design, Sonvang represents Eben Sadie’s vision for a distinctly African field-blend red. This wine represents 20 years of work. "The goal was to plant the blend, not make the blend," he explains.