2022 Sadie Family Swartland Palladius

Palladius is the pinnacle of Swartland white wines, a masterful blend of all 11 official white varieties of the region, with old-vine Chenin Blanc as its cornerstone. Eben Sadie’s vision for this wine is to encapsulate the entire Swartland terroir in a single bottle, crafting a cuvée that is both complex and profoundly expressive.

The fruit is harvested from 17 meticulously farmed sites across Swartland, including rare old bush-vine plantings on decomposed granite and sandstone soils, some dating back to 1935. Each component is gently pressed and vinified in clay amphorae, concrete eggs, and large wooden foudre. The wine is then aged for 24 months without fining or filtration, allowing the intricate layers to fully integrate and reveal the soul of the region.

The 2022 Palladius showcases remarkable breadth and texture, with a finely tuned balance of phenolic freshness and deep, resonant complexity. It invites contemplation, revealing subtle nuances and layers with every sip.

This is a wine to savour slowly and to cellar with confidence. Eben has described Palladius as the wine that has advanced most in recent years, and the 2022 vintage continues to raise the bar for what Swartland whites can achieve.

97 points
"An impressively layered and complex white, blending 11 varietals from 17 vineyards across the Swartland. Aromas of jackfruit, sliced pear, green papaya, flint, grapefruit, and hazelnut lead to a full-bodied palate with a caressing, supple texture. Seamless, evolving to spices over time. Even better than 2021?"
- Claire Nesbitt (James Suckling)

97 points
"Eben Sadie says that this is the wine he has wanted to make... Taut, fresh and saline, it possesses immense nervosité on the finish that lingers in the mouth. This is even better than the 2021."
- Neal Martin (Vinous)