Rhône Theme
Timed Online Auction, 13 - 20 February 2023
Rhône Theme
About the SessionThe first sale of the 2023 Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auction calendar is an exciting Rhône valley and Rhône-style offering.
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About this Item
Eben Sadie is South Africa’s most revered winemaker and he arguably kick-started the local fine wine revolution. Over two decades his pursuit for quality in the Swartland has been unparalleled in South Africa and he was voted Winemaker of the Year in 2017 by the International Master of Wine Institute. Eben’s wines were influenced by the Rhône and Spain, with traditional local varieties sourced from pockets of old bush vines and unique terroirs. Long-ageing Columella is often regarded as South Africa’s best red, while Palladius similarly offers an incredible Swartland expression and decades of longevity. The old vine single vineyard series, which was first released in the 2009 vintage, is now firmly the most sought-after release of the year. Mev Kirsten is South Africa’s rarest white wine, produced from a century old Stellenbosch vineyard, while the now legendary Skurfberg received 100 points from Tim Atkin in 2020.
Columella is named after the ancient Roman writer who produced perhaps the earliest good treatise on viticulture in his De re rustica. Starting in 2000, Eben’s goal was to produce the finest expression of the Swartland and today Columella is South Africa’s most coveted red wine.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
“We are very proud of this wine,” says Eben Sadie, and rightly so. The Syrah component of this iconic wine has decreased every year and now stands at 50%, complemented by Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault and Tinta Barocca. It’s a very nuanced, elegant wine, with subtle bramble and blackberry fruit, stony minerality, nuanced oak and undertones of aromatic fynbos. Drink: 2016-24” - Tim Atkin SA Wine Report 2016, 96/100
'Internationally acclaimed as one of SA’s top reds. 2014 adds cinsaut to usual shiraz, mourvèdre, grenache blend; while denser than light & subtle 2013 (92 pts), still exhibits hallmark elegance & purity, fine texture & delicate grip.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2017, 4.5*
'Medium ruby-red. Deep aromas of blackberry, olive tapenade, botanical herbs, lavender, spices, licorice and savory minerality. Plush but firm on the palate, displaying terrific energy and shape to the flavors of dark berries, black pepper, wild herbs and spices. With its wonderfully even, fine-grained tannins and outstanding saline persistence, this savory wine is already compulsively drinkable. Really stains the palate with purple fruits, spices and red flowers. I find this much easier to understand than the 2013 was two years ago but its distinct firmness suggests that it will evolve slowly. Really stands out for its energy and lift and for its almost Pinot-like weight.' - Neal Martin, Vinous, 95/100 (Apr 2017)
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