About the winemaker: From three generations of winemaking stock, Adi was destined to be the best. Time in the Rhône, New Zealand and as winemaker at Rustenberg polished his talent before he (along with his cousin) brought his humble vineyard in the Paardeberg complete with gnarled vines and a run-down winery. He is now one of the leading players in ‘The Swartland Revolution’, a group of pioneering young winemakers, including Eben Sadie, Chris Mullineux and Marc Kent, making wines from the amazing raw materials that are part of the Swartland’s grape-growing legacy - a legacy that dates back centuries.
Wines in the box:
AA Badenhorst, Secateurs Chenin, 2022 x2
The grapes are hand picked with great care and chilled overnight. The following day they are whole bunch pressed to a settling tank. After juice is started natural fermentation in tank Some of it is also fermented in older casks and big foudres; around 25%of the total before blending. This wine was left on its gross lees for 7 months before being bottled with occasional lees stirring during this time. This is top quality Chenin at quite frankly a bargain price. Probably one of the best value whites in our portfolio.
AA Badenhorst, Secateurs Shiraz Cinsault, 2021 x2
All grapes are hand-picked, chilled overnight and then crushed into open concrete tanks for natural primary fermentation which lasts around two weeks. The tanks are foot stomped, twice daily during this time. The finished wine is run off into old casks and concrete tanks The blended wine was left on its gross lees in casks, foudres and concrete tanks for 7 months before being bottled. Lightly filtered but not fined. Far from the confeceted and jammy Shiraz you might think, this is elegant and spicy and again cracking value for money.
AA Badenhorst, Secateurs Rose, 2023 x 1
The Mourvèdre grapes are all picked early in the morning before the sun starts to sting the pickers. The whole bunches were transferred to the press and pressed directly. The juice was settled overnight and then racked into foudres and concrete tanks. At this stage juices are blended and naturally fermented. This is quite a serious rose for the money reminding us of those structured Bandol Roses. Food friendly and delicious.
AA Badenhorst, Secateurs Riviera, 2021 x1
This is a skin macerated Chenin Blanc from an old vineyard situated next to a dry river. Around 60% of the grapes are placed partially whole bunch and partially destemmed in a concrete tank. The rest of the grapes are pressed,a nd the juice is run on top of the grapes to get the fermentation going. Two thirds of the fermentation take place on skin after which the run-off must is taken to old 500L casks where fermentation is completed. No sulphur is added during the fermentation. The wine matures for 10 months in old casks on top of the gross lees. Unfiltered so can have a slight haze. A very elegant Orange that is wonderfully textured. Love it.
