Provenance

The Coats Family Cellar is arguably the most prestigious fine wine collection ever offered in South Africa. It contains an expansive collection of the worlds finest, most sought-after wines, spanning over 150 years. Collected over many decades, the cellar was imported from Ireland to South Africa via refrigerated container. Each bottle within the Coats Family Cellar was authenticated by Michael Egan in August 2022 and given an ID number for tracking.

Michael Egan is a world-expert in fine and rare wines with more than thirty five years of experience. He was the principal expert for the plaintiff in the two major wine counterfeiting trials in Koch v. Eric Greenberg and United States v. Rudy Kurniawan, both of which occurred in 2013.

Along with Michael Egan, the Strauss & Co Fine Wine team have tasted extensively through the cellar and are confident of the wine storage and hence quality. The entire collection is currently stored at Wine Cellar.

Critics Ratings

'This extreme style is a high-wire act, but the 2007 is a definite hit. Aromas of lemon custard, orange rind, wet rocks, honeysuckle, white peach and buttered popcorn burst from the glass, followed by a vibrant, seamless, layered impression on the palate, and a long finish. This is definitely a ripe, oaky wine, but a real success in the genre.' - William Kelley, Decanter.com, 94/100 (Jul 2016)

'Extremely – some might say excessively – rich and spicy. Intense but with only just enough acidity. No doubt that it's from California.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Apr 2016)

'This white moves gracefully from primary flavors of peach and citrus to a broader range of charred oak, mineral, and even a scent of butterscotch. Smooth, deep and rich, the attractive charred oak quality lingers, as this reverberates on the finish. Drink now through 2020.' - James Laube, Wine Spectator, 95/100 (Jul 2012)

'A staggering Chardonnay that’s still an infant, the light yellow/green/gold 2007 offers up notes of unbuttered popcorn, orange liqueur, lemon butter, quince and crushed rocks. It possesses terrific underlying acidity, a full-bodied mouthfeel and a youthfulness and freshness that suggest this wine has two decades of life ahead of it. This majestic Chardonnay seems more French than Californian, but again, this reflects the significance of the labor of these two overachieving, push-the-envelope visionaries. What California viticulture and high-class, minimalist winemaking can achieve is exhibited in bold fashion by this 2007. It will hit its prime in 5-7 years, and appears to be a replay of the 2002 stylistically as well as for its overall potential.' - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 99+/100 (Jun 2012)