David & Nadia Sadie Pinotage 2023

David & Nadia Pinotage 2023 comes from the Swartland project founded by husband-and-wife team David and Nadia Sadie, two of the most thoughtful growers working in South Africa today. Based in the Swartland, their work centers on old, dry-farmed bush vines across the region, with a strong emphasis on soil health, biological farming, and minimal intervention in the cellar. Nadia, a trained soil scientist, oversees vineyard management, while David focuses on the winemaking. Their approach is rooted in transparency — letting vineyard site and grape variety lead the style rather than heavy cellar influence.

This pinotage is sourced from dry-farmed bush vines planted between 1991 and 1998 on the Paardeberg, where decomposed granite soils and elevation help maintain freshness and structure in the fruit. The grapes are fermented with a portion of whole clusters, handled gently with minimal punch-downs, and aged in large, neutral foudres, a choice that supports slow development while avoiding strong oak influence.

The result is a more restrained interpretation of pinotage than the richer, heavier styles historically associated with the variety. The wine leans toward freshness and structure, showing bright red fruit, subtle spice, and a savory edge, carried by fine tannins and lively acidity.

Rather than trying to amplify the grape, David and Nadia aim to refine it — presenting pinotage through a lens of careful farming and quiet cellar work, with the Swartland’s granite soils at the center of the expression.