Swartland Revolutionaries Mixed Case

A linear, tightly-packed Porseleinberg – lithe and slender with tonnes of energy, and with that signature stony grip on the finish. While a little shy at first, it opens up to reveal spicy fennel salami, dried bay leaf and rosemary notes, and violet-infused perfume with time in glass. The fruit profile starts in the red spectrum – tangy red cherry and raspberry, with a citrussy, pink-grapefruit tang – and moves towards wild blueberries, with a wonderful peppery tension on the mid-palate and fine-grained, mouth-coating tannins. Owned by Boekenhoutskloof and farmed from 2010 to 2025 by winegrower Callie Louw, Porseleinberg is one of South Africa's greatest and most sought-after wines.

This is the second consecutive Columella to be bottled at below 13.5% alcohol, indeed at the lowest alcohol Eben Sadie has ever achieved on the wine (13.2%), ‘without sacrificing complexity, intensity or strength.' It is brilliantly poised and detailed, with expressive aromas of raspberry, wild strawberry, blackberry and an intense spicy, herbal fynbos character with a flash of pink peppercorn. With fruit more in the red-fruit spectrum, this has gorgeous purity, a bright, tang of freshness on the palate, and very fine, lithe tannins. A blend of syrah, mourvedre, grenache, carignan, cinsault and tinta barocca, from 12 different Swartland vineyards (seven on the Paardeberg), Columella is not only one of the great signature wines of the Swartland and the Cape, but now truly one of the great signature wines of the world. Please note that this wine is only available as part of the mixed case MX26177.

‘With Columella and Palladius we are trying to make an appellation wine that has consistency,’ Eben Sadie explains, and Palladius, the original Swartland white blend, paints the biggest canvas of appellation Swartland of the pair, with this vintage sourced from 17 vineyards and 11 grape varieties (chenin blanc, grenache blanc, clairette blanche, viognier, verdelho, roussanne, marsanne, semillon gris, semillon blanc, palomino and colombard). Fermented and matured in a combination of clay amphora, concrete and old foudre, this is always a textured wine with some lovely grip on the palate. Restrained and understated with aromas and flavours of citrus zest and orchard fruit, and a flinty minerality, the 2022 is one of the most reticent editions of Palladius according to Eben and will benefit from a good decant if approaching now. Please note that this wine is only available as part of the mixed case MX26177.

The 2015 was the tenth release of what winemaker Adi Badenhorst calls an ‘appellation Swartland’ wine (previously known as the Family Red but now rechristened the Kalmoesfontein Red) and it is on fine form in 2026 – spicy, rich, inviting and still youthful. A blend of 52% syrah, 21% grenache, 18% cinsault and 9% tinta barocca, this has ripe, generous red-berry fruit and rosemary and thyme perfume, all married with great freshness. As ever, this is a multi-dimensional wine, layered and serious, but also just unequivocally delicious – a great advocate for the power of blending. A small parcel of the remaining 2015 has come to The Wine Society straight from the Badenhorst cellars following a tasting in February 2026.

The 2014 Kalmoesfontein White (previously known as the Family White) is a broad, rich expression balanced with refreshing acidity and a citrus-pith grip. A blend of mostly chenin blanc (31%), roussanne, marsanne, grenache blanc, viognier, verdelho, chardonnay, grenache gris, clairette blanche and palomino (though as Adi says, ‘some may not appear on the back label – we forgot’), this is all white peach, dried herbs, lemon balm and creamy cashew nut, with a touch of honeycomb on the finish. A minuscule parcel of the remaining 2014 (just 30 bottles!) has come to The Wine Society straight from the Badenhorst cellars following a tasting in February 2026. Please note that this wine is only available as part of the mixed case.

Now their signature white, Mullineux Old Vines White is always a blend centred on old-vine chenin blanc accompanied by a cast of Mediterranean varieties and intended to be ‘a reflection of this incredible place.’ The 2023 was a beautiful vintage in the Swartland, with good winter rainfall and a cool growing season and this is reflected in the linear tension of the wine. A blend of 62% chenin blanc, with 10% semillon gris, 13% clairette blanche, 8% grenache blanc, 5% viognier and 2% verdelho, this has a gentle aromatic of spring blossom, white fruit and oatmeal. There is lovely intensity of yellow apple and salted almond on the palate which builds and builds to a long and textured finish. Please note that this wine is only available as part of the mixed case.