Modern, Post-War and Contemporary Art, Decorative Arts, and Wine
Online-Only Auction, 31 May - 7 June 2021
Wine - Stellenbosch Theme
About this Item
With an eye for excellence and a passion for South Africa Waterford Estate in the Blaauwklippen valley on the slopes of the Helderberg strives to craft exceptional wine vintage after vintage. Here, in the 'golden triangle' of Stellenbosch, renowned for its favourable terroir for producing world class, structured reds, Waterford Estate has grown into a luxury brand for fine wine.
The Kevin Arnold Shiraz was launched with this 1998 vintage as a flagship expression of the property, carrying the name of their illustrious winemaker, and subtitled after the two proprietor families' children in the early years. It soon became an icon brand with a popular following that propelled this modern Stellenbosch winery to a contemporary showpiece. The maiden 1998 was made from fruit bought in from Overgaauw and carries the name of Robert Charles, the eldest Arnold son.
Kevin Arnold's personal note on the wine:The inaugural 1998 vintage of Kevin Arnold Shiraz comes from a vintage known for localized frosts leading to a hot dry season with low yields, yet from those yields producing some thunderous - others beautifully stormy, flavoursome reds, for keeping.
This vintage was the start of Waterford Estates story – a story of two families - one (the Ord family) with a passion to own a wine farm with the capacity to produce world class and exceptional wines and the other family (the Arnolds) with the recognition, expertise, determination and legacy mindset to build from the soil up.
The wine gives no hint of slowing down in its 21st year – the balance of acidity and fruit shows brightly with a tannin profile smoothed like polished stones washed in the waterfalls on the neighbouring mountains after the rain. Its prowess is not to be underestimated as it retains all the grace and elegance of Kevin’s signature profile backed up by the generosity this wine is known for amongst its cult following.
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Producer
Critics Ratings
'Piercing pan-roast spices, deep roast coffee, fantastic savoury intensity in firm, full but not overbearing palate. Soft, ripe tannins offset dark fruit. Easy to drink but utterly serious.' - Platters SA Wine Guide 2001, 4*