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
Various sources report that in 1957 a deed was signed before a solicitor concerning a plot of vines located in ‘ad montem Olivetti’ but it wasn't until the beginning of the XXth century that the association between the Sabon family and this locality was forged. Séraphin Sabon married Marie, daughter of Romain Jausset, a landowner in Châteauneuf-du-Pape and in 1932 they established the Clos Mont Olivet. Since then the domaine has passed through the hands of their eldest son, Joseph, and his children. Today, Celine, David and Thierry Sabon, his grandchildren, manage the estate. The estate holds 21 hectares of vines in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, 14 hectares in Lirac, 10 hectares of Côtes du Rône and 3 hectares of Vin de Pays du Gard.
Provenance
Private Client
Critics Ratings
‘A wine I underestimated post-bottling, this wine has put on weight and developed an intoxicating perfume of balsam wood, pepper, kirsch liqueur, and tobacco. Thick, unctuously-textured, full-bodied, and gorgeously pure, it is more evolved than expected, but there is no doubting this Chateauneuf will drink well for two decades. It is still slightly behind the other-worldly qualitites of the 1990 Cuvee du Papet. Anticipated maturity: now-2018.’ – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 95/100 (Dec 2001)
‘Deep bright red-ruby color. Higher-pitched, more perfumed aromas of dark berries, violet, leather and black pepper. Very dense and firm in the mouth; a wine of impressive structure. Not an especially sweet style of Chateauneuf thanks to its peppery intensity. Will obviously develop very slowly in bottle yet already offers compelling inner-mouth perfume. Very classy and very long on the aftertaste, with notes of gibier and leather.’ – Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, 94/100 (Jan 2000)
‘Dark and smoky, with bacony toast, cedar, mesquite grilled beef and chestnut notes leading the way for a core of solid currant and plum fruit. Shows some brawn, along with a playful hint, on the rich, dark fruit-filled finish. Approachable now, but a little more cellaring won't hurt. Best from 2008 through 2025.’ – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 94/100 (Sep 2007)