Eben Sadie is considered one of the great visionaries and preservationists among South African winemakers. He is outspoken about his obsession with terroir and making sure the Swartland region is recognized as a place to make exceptional, authentic and highly coveted wines.

Tinta Barrocca planted on an alluvial plain in the Swartland with plenty of quartz. The capsule glistens. And adjacent to an old railway line. 50% whole cluster fermented and aged in neutral conical casks and then settled in concrete before bottling off the lees. Plum, graphite, mineral.

Tinta Barocca is a grape that carries the soil into the bottle, it is a great communicator of terroir. The grape has had a longstanding relationship with the Swartland and the spicy herbal aromatics and dark purple plum like fruit carries over into a very tight and compressed core of the wine. As mentioned before the tannins of Tinta Barocca have very much the same behaviour as those of Nebbiolo and proper ageing is required. Historically we have referenced that Tinta Barocca might be the most significant red variety of the historical plantings to transport the terroir and typicity of a site to bottle.

Tasting Notes: This 2024 Treinspoor starts out with some darker graphite and dried fig aromas, transcending into violets and perfumes that transform into pencil lead aromas. It is one of the most lifted versions, and the purple hue also suggests a new definition of Tinta Barocca, or at least for us. The tannins are multi-layered and dense with a firm finish. This is an absolute block of a wine with a lingering forever taste. Please afford this wine time. 

Food Pairing: Grilled lamb chops, beef cheek, venison, and duck breast. Mushroom risotto, truffle-based dishes, or roasted vegetables. Serve between 16-18°C, ideally decanted for 1-2 hours to allow the complex, savory notes to open up. 

From Swartland Tinta Barocca. 30% whole-bunch fermentation. Matured for 11 months in foudre before a further month in concrete. The nose is evocative with notes of dark berries, fig, lavender, fynbos and earth. The palate shows dense fruit, brisk acidity and firm tannins, the finish ultra-dry. Balanced and substantial – compelling rather than nuanced, powerful without being clunky. Alc: 13.5%. CE’s rating: 94/100.

ANALYSIS: ALC 13.5% | TA 5.6g/L | pH 3.5 | RS 1.4g/L