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.
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
‘Always Shiraz with 20% Mourvèdre, respectfully and traditionally vinified, including berry selection, long cool fermentation and maceration, basket pressed; 2 years in French oak, new component down to only 35% for 2007. Brilliant, sensual, showing gravel-tinged fruit and perfect harmony.’ - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2010, 5*
'A warm, dry vintage that led to many vines shutting down and thus offering long hang times on paper but with out the corresponding ripening. So a difficult vintage known for its pyrazines, especially on the whites. The nose shows rich, plumy, earthy characters with cured meats, black olive, plum compote and hints of tannery leather. The tannins are sweet and plush, creamy and opulent with a fine line of acidity wrapped in voluptuous layers of sweet red and black berry fruits. An impressive offering for the vintage and drinking beautifully at the moment.' - Greg Sherwood MW, 95+/100 (Nov 2022)
'Decidedly fresher and spicier on the nose than the 2004, with raspberry, fresh blackcurrant, violet and pink peppercorn notes. Slimmer (not as extracted or thick) and more classically South African in profile, though very young still. Again, it has this piercing acidity and fairly robust, textural tannins. More edgy and tense than the 2004, this 2007 is excellent, but not quite as complex and harmonious. Various soils: granite, slate, clay, gravel. Three weeks fermentation and three weeks maceration in 2,000L open-top wooden fermenters. Aged for 18 months on lees then a further six months on fine lees.' - Matt Walls, Decanter.com, 95/100 (May 2022)
‘Captivating with a stunning array of loganberry, raspberry, blackberry and boysenberry fruit, all kept racy and invigorating thanks to well-embedded acidity and a bright minerality. Long, velvety and pure, with the iron spine buried deep on the finish. Syrah and Mourvèdre.’ - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 95/100 (Mar 2010)
'Lifted nose. Beautifully balanced and mature. Clean and fresh even if not that concentrated. Long. Showing very well at the moment.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 18/20 (May 2022)
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