The Sadie Family Stellenbosch Old Vine Series Mev. Kirsten 2023

The Sadie Family Stellenbosch Old Vine Series Mev. Kirsten 2023 is one of South Africa’s most iconic expressions of old-vine Chenin Blanc, sourced from some of the oldest recorded Chenin plantings in the country. Planted around 1905 on decomposed granite with alluvial soils and quartz, these venerable vines deliver a wine of remarkable texture, energy and precision. Mev. Kirsten has long been a benchmark bottling in Eben Sadie’s Old Vine Series, showcasing the profound depth and quiet power that old Stellenbosch vineyards can achieve.

Tasting Notes
In the glass, the 2023 Mev. Kirsten is pale straw to light gold, with a shimmering clarity that hints at its tension and freshness. The nose is focused and bright, opening with crisp orchard fruit—green and yellow apple, fresh pear—and layers of citrus from tangy pomelo and grapefruit zest, underpinned by subtle notes of wet stone, quartz, and a gentle floral lift. On the palate, the wine is both textural and finely etched, delivering a silken, almost glycerol viscosity that speaks to its century-old vines, yet balanced by a spine of vivid acidity. Core flavors of pithy citrus, crunchy apple, and pear are wrapped in a phenolic richness that adds grip and structure without heaviness. There is impressive vertical lift, tension and drive through the mid-palate, leading to a long, saline-tinged finish that remains wonderfully fresh. While already compelling in its youth, the concentration, acidity, and phenolic structure suggest excellent aging potential over 10–15 years or more, gaining complexity, honeyed nuances, and deeper savory tones with time in bottle.

Production
The Mev. Kirsten vineyard lies in Stellenbosch at a moderate elevation of around 185 meters above sea level, rooted in decomposed granite over alluvial soils with seams of quartz. This combination of poor, stony soils and a relatively cool, elevated site naturally limits yields and enhances both texture and mineral definition. The Chenin Blanc vines—planted circa 1905—are dry-farmed, deeply rooted, and tended with great care to preserve their old-vine character and vitality. Harvesting is done by hand, allowing meticulous selection of healthy, optimally ripe grapes that still retain bright natural acidity. In the cellar, Eben Sadie works with a light touch: gentle whole-bunch or whole-berry handling, spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts, and élevage for 12 months in old foudres. The use of neutral, large-format oak ensures no overt wood imprint, instead allowing the vineyard’s phenolic richness, fruit weight and mineral detail to take center stage.

Food & Serving
This Chenin Blanc’s combination of fruit concentration, acidity and subtle phenolic grip makes it a versatile partner at the table. It pairs beautifully with refined seafood dishes such as poached turbot, sole meunière, seared scallops, or simply grilled line fish, as well as shellfish like langoustines, crab, or oysters. It also excels alongside roast or herb-crusted chicken, guinea fowl, pork tenderloin, and richer vegetarian dishes featuring fennel, leeks, cauliflower, or root vegetables, especially in butter- or cream-based sauces. Serve at 10–12°C to highlight its freshness while allowing the texture and aromatics to emerge; a gentle decant of 30–45 minutes can be beneficial in its youth, helping the wine to unfurl and reveal its full complexity.

Producer
The Sadie Family Wines, founded by Eben Sadie in the Swartland, has become one of South Africa’s most influential and revered producers, credited with helping to redefine the country’s fine wine landscape. From the outset, the focus has been on old vines, terroir transparency, and low-intervention winemaking, with the Old Vine Series created to honor historically significant parcels across the Cape. Mev. Kirsten, sourced from some of the oldest Chenin Blanc vines in Stellenbosch, is one of the flagship white bottlings and a benchmark for the variety in South Africa. Internationally acclaimed and consistently highly rated, The Sadie Family’s work has played a major role in elevating South African Chenin Blanc and in bringing global attention to the Cape’s remarkable old-vine heritage.