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
The Foundry Wine Collection was established on a shoestring budget in 2001 by Chris Williams and his great friend James Reid. The brand has gained numerous accolades and awards since 2001. The wines are site specific, terroir defined wines, with the aim of producing wines that both Chris and James enjoy drinking.
This label was established in 2001, Chris made the first vintage at Joostenberg Wines in an old farm workshop that became affectionately known as “The Foundry”. He made a single Stellenbosch Syrah in that first year and has slowly added wines over the next decade and a half to end up with five wines in the range.
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Producer
Critics Ratings
'Classy Cape interpretation of the northern Rhône, smooth & polished 2008 bridges the spicy/fruity style divide, melds best of both in harmonious whole.' - Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2013, 4.5*
‘Healthy crimson. Smells like a fine bordeaux! Wonderfully gentle texture. Lovely, even if it is only a distant relative to a northern Rhône wine. So well made! I wonder why it’s still around?’ – Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 16.5/20 (Oct 2021)
‘Chris Williams told me that the 2008 Syrah had some uneven fruit and so the vinification was treated much more cautiously, almost Burgundian in style, and that subsequently he has made his Syrah in the same way. It has a bulbous bouquet with lush cranberry, raspberry, Provencal herbs and gravelly scents that take a few swirls to lose their feistiness. The palate is soft and fleshy on the opening. There is plenty of dusky, mocha-tinged black fruit here and the rounded, earthy finish has a softness and plumpness that belies the structure underneath. This is very fine. Drink now-2018.’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (Oct 2013)