2012 A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines, Secateurs Red Blend, Swartland, South Africa
Critics reviews
Jonathan Ray - Wine Spectator - Feb 2015
About this WINE
A. A. Badenhorst
Andre Adriaan Badenhorst’s grandfather was the general manager at Groot Constantia wine estate for 46 years. His father was born there and farmed on neighboring Buitenverwachting and Constantia Uitsig for many years. Adi grew up between the vineyards and spent his time picking (stealing) grapes. “It all started when Jean Daneel, then winemaker at Buitenverwachting, let me make my first wine when I was thirteen,” Adi recalls.
After completing his studies at Elsenburg, Adi worked a few harvests at Chateau Angelus, Alain Graillot in the north Rhone, France and Wither Hills in New Zealand and did stints at local cellars Simonsig, Steenberg, Groote Post and nine years as winemaker at the esteemed Stellenbosch estate, Rustenberg.
In 2008 he packed it all in and bought a 60-hectare piece of land in the Paardeberg with his cousin Hein. They now proudly farm together, practice biological farming and make natural wines in the traditional manner, vinifying in old foudres and cement vats.
On Kalmoesfontein it is back to basics, using traditional winemaking equipment and old cement vats.. “We make wines with immense character. We’re using what we can afford. We are making the best wines we can. And we are having great experiences. I want to make something, involving interaction from my family.”
Today Adi Badenhorst is an award winning winemaker, member of the Cape Winemakers Guild, and one of the growers who is really putting the Swartland region on the map as a source of fine wine.
Swartland
After Stellenbosch, the west coast district of Swartland (25 miles due north of Cape Town, between the towns of Malmesbury and Piketberg) now ranks as the Cape's most exciting wine-producing district.
Settled initially by nomadic Khoikhoi from Namibia, the Dutch brought trade and vines to the region in the 17th century. Viticulture was developed only more recently.This contrasts with an ancient geology which has brought a mix of shale, arenite sandstone and granite soils air-conditioned by the Atlantic Ocean nearby.
Chenin Blanc and Shiraz seem to do best, as exemplified by the wines of Eben Sadie and Mullineux.
Other Varieties
There are over 200 different grape varieties used in modern wine making (from a total of over 1000). Most lesser known blends and varieties are traditional to specific parts of the world.
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Description
The irrepressible Adi Badenhorst has garnered quite a reputation for his flair for making fantastic wines in Swartland with seemingly very little intervention at all; instead, he allows the wines to develop their own fascinating personalities. The 2012 Secateurs Red Blend is an intriguing mix, primarily of Shiraz (55%) and Cinsault (35%) (co-fermented) with Grenache (3%), Pinotage (3%), Cabernet Sauvignon (2%) and Mourvèdre (2%) making up the balance. The result is a pure wine with lovely red and black fruit on the palate and delicious freshness.
Catriona Felstead MW - New World Buyer
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