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.
The Piekenierskloof took its name from the piekeniers (foot soldiers) who were located at the top of the pass of the mountain to protect the lifestock in this part of the old Cape Colony from theft, hence this parcel of vines being named Soldaat (Soldier). This pure Grenache on granite soils is often said to have a nose ‘reminiscent of an old Rayas’. Forming part of Sadie’s Old Vine Series, only 350 cases were produced.
Provenance
Wine Cellar Private Client
Critics Ratings
'The 2015 Old Vine Series Soldaat is one of the few labels from Eben that is still 100% whole bunch, aged in concrete only. It has a brambly red berry fruit, a slight granitic note overlayed by wilted rose petal. The palate is very fresh and vibrant on the entry, perhaps a little more body and density than previous vintages that I have tasted, with immense purity and varietal expression on the finish. This is excellent and a very strong follow-up to the 2014.' - Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 94/100 (Apr 2017)
'High-pitched, with bright savory and shiso leaf notes out front, giving this a piercing feel as blood orange, damson plum and bitter cherry fruit races in behind. The long, mineral-edged finish has lovely tension.' - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 93/100 (Mar 2017)
'This sandstone-based vineyard is located at 850 metres, but is picked among the first sites in Piekenierskloof. Whole bunch fermented in concrete, the resulting wine is all about fruit. Earthy, tangy and just a little feral, with smoky, spicy complexity and a slightly vegetal finish. Not quite a match for the other Sadie wines in 2015. Drink: 2016-20' - Tim Atkin MW, SA Special Report 2016, 92/100
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