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.
An Incredibly rare opportunity to purchase very early vintages of South Africa's Iconic Red.
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
Wine Cellar Private Client
Critics Ratings
‘Healthy dark red-ruby. Good peppery lift to the rather primary aromas of black cherry, orange peel, flint, graphite, licorice and oak char; I was reminded both of Bordeaux and Hermitage. Open-knit on entry, then a bit more clenched in the middle, with still-young flavors of black fruits, black olive and oak. This wine still has longer to go, but with its serious acidity I wonder if it will ever really soften. Sadie described 2001 as “our driest year ever, with just 20 millimeters of rain during the growing season.” He dropped 40% of the crop three weeks before the harvest and ultimately produced just 11 hectoliters per hectare. But as he had purchased enough barrels to handle 18 hectoliters per hectare, the percentage of new oak was the highest ever for Columella at 80%.’ - Steven Tanzer, Vinous, 91+/100 (Jan 2015)
‘Dark and deep in colour. Deep berry and brooding spice on the nose, with just a lift of violet. Velvety texture, yet grippy with power, the tannins hold it in like a tight velvet bodice. Layers of beauty – cassis, warm plum and liquorice while a touch of wet earth and dried herbs give it a wild garrigue edge. This is a smouldering, powerfully muscular wine that yet manages poise and sophistication. The finish lasts and lasts.’ - Tamlyn Currin, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Jun 2011)
'These sophisticated, modern expressions of the Swartland grown and made with great (and expensive) attention to detail since maiden 2000 vintage. 2001, with 14% Mourvèdre, had lovely, full-bodied, confidently balanced structure, persistent flavours - and refined despite 14.8% alcohol.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2005, 4.5*
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