Rhône Theme
Timed Online Auction, 2 - 12 February 2024
Rhône | International & South African offering
About the SessionThe first sale of the 2024 Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auction calendar is an exciting Rhône valley and Rhône-style offering and has fast-become one of the most popular at Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auctions.
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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
'This is the fourteenth vintage of a wine that helped to define the Swartland and it’s the best yet. Syrah-based with support from Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsault, it’s fine and aromatic, with pure, mineral and berry fruit flavours, subtle oak integration and tannins that build on the palate. An incredible wine from a winemaker at the peak of his powers. Drink: 2016-25' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2015, 97/100
'Dark crimson. Wonderful combination of richness and freshness. Bone-dry finish and some dustiness. Juicy before that dusty finish. Tangy. Even if not as outstanding as the white counterpart Palladius.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Sep 2015)
'The 2013 Columella is matured for ten months in cask with 10% new oak, and then another ten months in foudres; Eben believes this slows down the maturation. It has a very complex bouquet, mercurial on the nose, and bestowed with wild strawberry and cranberry scents, incense and a hint of marmalade that is beautifully detailed. The palate is medium-bodied, extremely refined and mineral-laden, symmetrical and standing on tip-toes on the finish -- something that this label could not do when Eben started. It is compact at the moment, but it will turn into an astonishing Swartland wine.' - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 96/100 (Nov 2015)
'Widely noted as one of SA’s top reds. Light, subtle 2013 focuses more on elegance & purity than power, with lowest alcohol yet & expressive, fresh red berry fruits. Fine textured, supple blend Swartland shiraz with mourvèdre & grenache, year each in cask & foudre.' - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2016, 4.5*
'This has a dark and fleshy profile, without being heady, as the plum, blackberry and black cherry confiture flavors are supported by incense, anise and singed sandalwood notes. Everything melds beautifully through the finish, revealing a long echo of black tea. Syrah and Mourvèdre.' - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 93/100 (Apr 2016)
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