Single-Owner Private Collection of Fine Wines from South Africa, Bordeaux, Rhône Valley, Italy, Spain and more….
Timed Online Auction, 27 June - 15 July 2024
South Africa - Whites
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
Chris and Suzanne Alheit set the wine world on fire with their maiden 2011 Cartology receiving 96 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Aiming to harness the best old vineyards across the Cape, the Cartology offered a textured old-vine Chenin Blanc Semillon blend with startling purity and depth. Passionate and focused on the expression of place, tiny, long-forgotten parcels were added to the range, and are today South Africa’s most profound white wines. We auction maiden vintages of Magnetic Makstok on the legendary ‘Skurfkop’ in the Citrusdal area, Huilkrans in the Paardeberg, La Colline in Franschhoek, and, extremely rare Radio Lazarus in Stellenbosch.
Cartology is one of the most recognisable Cape white blends today.
Cartology (meaning the study of maps) is a vinous exploration of Cape heritage. It’s intended to be a picture of the Cape, seen through the lens of her old vineyards, in a given vintage. The cuveé is composed of rare and extraordinary parcels of mature dryland bushvines, of heritage grapes, namely Chenin blanc and Semillon. These grapes have been planted in the Cape for centuries. As a rule, the Cartology parcels are dry farmed bushvines, with a minimum age of thirty years, altough most are between forty and fifty years old. Cartology has become the staple offering. It serves as a poster child for the Alheit Vineyards project, and also seems to have become a flag bearer for Cape Heritage wine in general.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
'The 2012 Cartology Bush Vines has a slightly backward bouquet compared to the 2011 and indeed it was quite reductive for the first three years. There is a light marine influence here, with touches of beeswax and wet wool, a hint of orange pith coming through with time. The palate is fine balanced with a perfectly judged seam of acidity. There is a gentle crescendo in this Cartology, veins of ginger and lemongrass, perhaps showing a little more restraint but more harmony than the debut 2011. Tasted at the Alheit seminar with Chris Alheit in London.' - Neal Martin, Vinous, 93/100 (Jun 2019)
'The sophomore 2012 Cartology Bush Vines took 10 to 15 minutes to really open. The bottom line is that it is not as immediate as the debut, its disposition a little taciturn with tightly wound dried pineapple, yellow flower and spice aromas unfolding but demurring moving into fifth gear. The palate is well-balanced with a creamy textured opening and it builds very subtly offering popcorn, brioche, custard creme and citrus fruit – but in much more subtle, understated fashion compared to the 2011 that sprinted out of the blocks. I would actually allow this wine two or three years in bottle to demonstrate what it is capable of. Drink 2015-2023.' - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 92+/100 (Oct 2013)
'There’s yellow fruit, marzipan and an intriguing earthy note. The fruit is so concentrated that the wine is almost weighty but balance is provided by just enough acidity, the finish nicely savoury. It’s an exciting, provocative wine, but I remain quite sure that we’ll see more completely resolved versions of Cartology yet.' - Christian Eedes, Winemag.co.za, 91/100
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