2013 Columella
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Tasting notes
The 2013 Columella is matured for ten months in cask with 10% new oak, and then another ten months in foudres; Eben believes this slows down the maturation. It has a very complex bouquet, mercurial on the nose, and bestowed with wild strawberry and cranberry scents, incense and a hint of marmalade that is beautifully detailed. The palate is medium-bodied, extremely refined and mineral-laden, symmetrical and standing on tip-toes on the finish -- something that this label could not do when Eben started. It is compact at the moment, but it will turn into an astonishing Swartland wine.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Dark crimson. Wonderful combination of richness and freshness. Bone-dry finish and some dustiness. Juicy before that dusty finish. Tangy. Even if not as outstanding as the white counterpart Palladius. (JR)
(just 10% new oak, all Taransaud's top-of-the-line T5s): Good dark red. Black and red berries, menthol and wild herbs on the cool, reserved nose. Superconcentrated and bone-dry, but with lovely fruit sweetness and sappy spice character. Still tightly coiled and youthfully understated. Finishes very long and perfumed, with an amazingly light touch. I would expect this very young wine to merit an even higher score four or five years down the road.
About the producer
Since he started making wine under his own name in 2000, Eben Sadie became a cult name in South Africa. The Swartland producer is best known for his flagship Columella and Palladius, but he also makes a range of whites and reds under the Old Vine Series, which became the District Series in 2025.
Product details
Syrah / Shiraz, Grenache/ Garnacha , Cinsault, Carignan
Red
Dry