Cape Heritage and The Loire
Timed Online Auction, 1 - 12 August 2024
Cape Heritage - Red Wines
About the SessionThe Cape Heritage Red Wine Session features 25 lots from The Tabernacle – the famous underground cellar in Stellenbosch that houses some of South Africa’s most spectacular vinous historical treasures. All the lots from The Tabernacle have been recorked; each bottle was opened for inspection, under the protection of an argon gas blanket, and Strauss & Co fine wine specialist Higgo Jacobs along with Amorim tasted and assessed each wine. The wines were topped up with wine from the same vintage, recorked and resealed, all under the supervision of a technical team from Amorim Corks.
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
The GS 1966 Cabernet is shrouded in mystery and remains South Africa’s rarest wine. The GS Cabernet was an experiment by George Spies, then winemaker at Monis, in 1966 and 1968. His aim was to produce a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that had the ability to age, which was not common at the time. There is a mystery surrounding the winemaking, reportedly sourced from Durbanville. The bottles were given away by Spies, reportedly very tannic and rustic in its youth. As the wine matured, rare bottles become recognised by pundits such as Michael Fridjhon and James Molesworth of Wine Spectator. Today, there can’t be more than a 2 dozen pristine bottles in existence.
This wine has been checked and re-corked by Amorim cork under supervision of auction curator Higgo Jacobs, assuring provenance, quality and long life. Seal code On-898536 can be traced on Amorim Recorking Directory
Provenance
The Tabernacle – Stellenbosch
Critics Ratings
‘The nose is complex, showing red and black berries, some leafiness and even a touch of mint to go with the forest floor character you expect on an older wine. Nothing too fragile about the palate – the fruit remains quite succulent and the acidity fresh although the tannins are nicely resolved at this stage. The finish, meanwhile, has a lovely coolness about it indicative of this wine’s Durbanville origins.’ - Christian Eedes, 95/100 (Apr 2022)
‘Slight sweetness and rounded tannins, not quite the fine structure of the ‘66, with more fudgy red fruit and a cool minty touch. Brilliant acidity holds vibrancy to the wine, and makes it look light and ethereal. Impressive, just a nudge below the ‘66.’ - Higgo Jacobs (Apr 2022)
‘Bright maroon, slight bricking. Massive, spicy aromatic, but better on the nose than on the palate, where flavor is Rhône-like and broad (rather than profound and multilayered), with an elegant, refined finish.’ – Michael Fridjhon, 18/20
‘Private bottling. Never commercially available. Michael Fridjhon didn’t think this one of the best bottles – quite a bit of bottle variation. Remarkably dark colour. Rich garnet-brick core. A little minty and herbal and some liquorice, perfumed tobacco. Leathery sweetness on the palate. A little bit tough at the end and slightly metallic on the finish but remarkably youthful and still so much fruit. Coffee and spice on the finish. Tannins and fresh acidity still giving structure and shape.’ - Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17.5/20
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