2024 Sadie Family Soldaat, Piekenierskloof

Sliced strawberries, pomegranates, rose hips, orange rind and wet stones on the nose of this supremely elegant, fragrant red. Sour cherries, too. It’s medium-bodied, very fresh and silky, with very fine tannins, seamless but present. Persistent and salty at the end. Great expression of grenache. Fermented and aged in concrete. Drink or hold.

97 points jamessuckling.com

Sadie Family Soldaat from Piekenierskloof is a beautifully aromatic, feather light yet deeply characterful expression of Grenache from one of South Africa’s most unique high altitude terroirs. The fruit comes from old bush vines planted over sandy, decomposed granite soils on the remote Piekenierskloof plateau, more than 700 metres above sea level. Here, extreme diurnal shifts and relentless winds slow ripening, concentrate flavour, and preserve the bright natural acidity that gives Soldaat its incredible lift and detail. Eben Sadie handles the fruit with the lightest possible touch: whole cluster fermentation, native yeasts, gentle extraction and ageing in old large format oak so that everything remains transparent to site.

The perfume is unmistakable. Wild strawberry, raspberry and cherry leap from the glass, joined by pomegranate, rose petal and a whisper of orange zest. Beneath all that brightness lies a distinct minerality, like sun warmed stones and dusty mountain paths, alongside a flicker of dried herbs and white pepper that anchors the wine to its rugged place of origin. As it opens, hints of cranberry, sour cherry, rooibos, anise and wild fynbos add nuance while keeping the style wonderfully breezy.

The palate is bright, taut and silk textured. Juicy red fruits glide over ultra fine tannins, carried by lively acidity that gives the wine an almost weightless feel. Flavours of redcurrant, strawberry leaf, cranberry and gentle spice move in energetic layers, guided by the clean mineral line that Piekenierskloof is famous for. The finish is long, fresh and savoury, leaving a lingering echo of red fruit and mountain herbs. Soldaat thrives with a light chill and is built for both immediate pleasure and short to mid-term cellaring that will bring more earth, spice and floral complexity.

A brilliant match for charcuterie, grilled quail, spiced lamb skewers, tapas, tomato based dishes, mushroom and herb pastas, roast vegetables or even picnics and relaxed afternoons outdoors. It is a wine that delights with its purity, its grace and its complete sense of South African place.