The Sadie Family Pofadder is an organic, barrel-aged red wine produced from the Cinsault grape variety by The Sadie Family in the Swartland appellation of the Coastal Region of South Africa. Sourced from old Cinsault vines, over 45 years old, located on Mount Kasteelberg, Pofadder benefits from slate and decomposed sandstone soils, cultivated using organic methods with a yield restricted to 30 hl/ha. Cinsault, known for its complexity to cultivate and vinify, requires meticulous care.

The grapes, picked by hand, are fermented in open barrels, with one or two punch-downs daily to ensure adequate fermentation. After a month of maceration, the wine is pressed and aged for 12 months in old wooden barrels, before being bottled without any treatment or filtration. The name of the wine, The Sadie Family Pofadder, pays homage to a local snake, the Pofadder, infamous for causing the death of a winemaker in the 1940s. This wine, produced in limited quantities, highlights the Cinsault grape, nicknamed the "Pinot Noir of Swartland", revealing all the elegance and finesse of this grape variety.

Tasting Notes: One of the most fascinating aspects of Cinsaut is the depth of texture and the load of tannin that this big berry grape holds, for as a norm one will expect this level of depth and texture and tannin on the smaller, berries varietals – but Cinsaut is a complete enigma in this regard. The wine may hold massive volumes of bright-red fruit and lifted aromatics; and upon smelling the wine the expectation is that it would be very soft on the pallet – but then firm tannins are met. The 2024 Pofadder is incredibly fruit forward from the get-go and displays very bright red fruit aromas with some oriental spicy herbal aromas. The fruit carries over into ripe strawberry aspects that follow through onto the palate. The tannins are softer than usual
and exceptionally well balanced early in the wine’s life. The wine is swift and a standout in recent vintages.

Food Pairing: Fruit-forward Cinsault with bright red berries, herbal spice, and fine tannins. Because it balances mineral cut with vibrant red fruit, it pairs best with roast duck, charcuterie, chargrilled pork, and earthy mushroom dishes. Roast Duck or Game Birds: The bright red fruit and earthy spice perfectly complement rich poultry and game. Chargrilled or Pan-Seared Pork: The wine’s acidity acts as a palate cleanser against the fat and salt of grilled pork. Beef & Venison: While Pofadder is elegant, its mid-palate texture holds up beautifully to lighter beef dishes and venison stews.

ANALYSIS: ALC 13.5% | TA 5.5g/L | pH 3.5 | RS 1.3g/L