Tucked away in Bot River on the Cape South Coast, Luddite has quietly built a reputation for making wines that feel deeply personal, uncompromising, and unconcerned with trends. Founded by Niels Verburg and Penny Verburg in the late 1990s, the winery has always leaned toward a slower, more hands-on approach to farming and winemaking; something that still defines the wines today.
‘Saboteur’ has become something of a cult wine in the Cape; a blend that changes slightly each vintage while still holding onto its unmistakable identity. The 2023 brings together Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre and Shiraz, each handled separately in the cellar to preserve both varietal character and texture.
The Cabernet, Grenache Noir and Mourvèdre were fermented in small batches in open bins, while the Shiraz was fermented in stainless steel tanks. After pressing, each component was transferred directly to barrel where they matured separately for twelve months before blending.
The result is a red that feels both rugged and composed. Dark berries, dried herbs and spice sit alongside a more savoury edge, with enough freshness to keep the wine energetic despite its depth. There’s structure here, but nothing overly polished; exactly the sort of wine that rewards being opened around a table rather than analysed too seriously.
Luddite ‘Saboteur’ Shiraz Blend 2023 Magnum
Large-format bottles suit wines like this particularly well. The magnum format slows ageing slightly and gives the wine more room to evolve, making it ideal for long lunches, winter dinners, or simply opening when too many people have arrived unexpectedly.
Drinking the Luddite ‘Saboteur’ Red 2023
Tucked away in Bot River on the Cape South Coast, Luddite has quietly built a reputation for making wines that feel deeply personal, uncompromising, and unconcerned with trends. Founded by Niels Verburg and Penny Verburg in the late 1990s, the winery has always leaned toward a slower, more hands-on approach to farming and winemaking; something that still defines the wines today.
‘Saboteur’ has become something of a cult wine in the Cape; a blend that changes slightly each vintage while still holding onto its unmistakable identity. The 2023 brings together Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre and Shiraz, each handled separately in the cellar to preserve both varietal character and texture.
The Cabernet, Grenache Noir and Mourvèdre were fermented in small batches in open bins, while the Shiraz was fermented in stainless steel tanks. After pressing, each component was transferred directly to barrel where they matured separately for twelve months before blending.
The result is a red that feels both rugged and composed. Dark berries, dried herbs and spice sit alongside a more savoury edge, with enough freshness to keep the wine energetic despite its depth. There’s structure here, but nothing overly polished; exactly the sort of wine that rewards being opened around a table rather than analysed too seriously.
Luddite ‘Saboteur’ Shiraz Blend 2023 Magnum
Large-format bottles suit wines like this particularly well. The magnum format slows ageing slightly and gives the wine more room to evolve, making it ideal for long lunches, winter dinners, or simply opening when too many people have arrived unexpectedly.
R795.00Add to basket