In South Africa like in Spain, Terroir is a relatively new concept. The oenologist of the Spanish estates we work with played a pioneering role in understanding its value. The same for Eben Sadie and its family in South Africa.
Columella is the flagship of this small company. Its production is very limited, but the quality is very high.
Vinification
Hand-picked in small baskets; natural yeast, fermentation in open 3,000 litre concrete tanks, for 3 weeks. 3 weeks maceration, without anything added. Malolactic fermentation in oak barrels (5% new oak). 12 months of ageing in French oak barrels, then one more year in big foudres, on the lees. Then, after 2 years, the wine is bottled, without any filtration or clarification.
Storage potential
Drink as from : 2025
Best moment : 2032-2034
Until : 2040
To serve
Decant 2 hours before serving in a large glass.
Trial analysis
This 2021 vintage of Columella displays extremely bright red fruit aromas. The wine is incredibly fresh, and the 24 months of ageing in old casks are unmarked; it almost seems like the fruit is still hanging on the vine. Some velvety spicey herbal aromas of the bush come through on the aromatics, and then violets and perfumes followed. There are darker, deeper lines of graphite, black olive and cedarwood aromatics, and the structure of the wine is quite seamless; the tannins flow into the acidity at the end of the palate. It is incredibly balanced, and delicate layers of stitching make up this wine. Time is your friend on this one.
Flavor profile
Wood
None
Aged in wood barrels
Heavily aged in wood barrels
Acidity
Low acidity
Balanced
High acidity
Fruitiness
Low fruitiness
Balanced
High fruitiness
Structure
Elegant
Balanced
Full-bodied