A.A. Badenhorst Family Wines Palomino 2019

As you know, Palomino is used mainly to produce sherry-style wines. Thus this A.A. Badenhorst from old bushes in Swartland is a rarity. “Rarer than we like our fillet,” says Adi, one of the Badenhorst’s cousins who follow in their grandfather’s footsteps.

I was at their cellar in Siebritskloof, part of the Paardeberg mountain, a few years ago. I tasted the vintage 2016 of this Sout van die Aarde Palomino and I went crazy with its vibrant and crystalline acidity. A few weeks ago, in Warsaw, I stumbled with this wine, but its 2019 reincarnation, and once again I was impressed by its purity, freshness, and salty aftertaste.

Its importer in Poland Vive la Vin has a few bottles, so probably now only the corks and empty bottles remain. For me, A.A. Badenhorst represents the real spirit of Swartland but also one of the most refreshing, honest, and attractive sides of South African wines.