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Receiving perfect scores and edging their way into the global limelight, South African wines are in a 'golden age'. Strauss & Co's Sunday auction will be a pivotal moment for local fine wine. The sale highlights Alheit Vineyards, The Sadie Family Wines and Vilafonté.
This is a rare chance to buy some older vintages from this top trio of producers, most of which are sourced directly from their cellars. These wines are bound to become increasingly scarce, making this one of the most important auctions of the year. There are many stand-out lots and, after tasting some recently, it is clear that most have years of maturation ahead of them. With perfect provenance and winemaker-curated lots, this sale will be hard to repeat.
Strauss & Co's live virtual auction takes place this Sunday, 10 October at 10am. Browse the catalogue and place pre-bids here.
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Alheit Vineyards
SA's most profound white wine producer
Chris and Suzanne Alheit’s maiden 2011 Cartology catapulted Alheit Vineyards into international wine stardom. A decade on, the Alheits are still one of the most talked-about producers, creating some of the most thrilling wines in SA. Together with their viticultural consultant, Etienne Terblanche, this dream team has firmly established Alheit Vineyards as SA’s premier white wine producer. The Alheit Vineyards Magnetic North, a single-origin Chenin Blanc, has become a perennial star in Strauss & Co's auctions. The Magnetic North Vertical 2013-2018 (lot 17) is one for the collectors and includes one of our favourite vintages of this epic wine – the 2016 – which is pure fruited with fine, trademark, saline energy.
Watch the interview >
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The Sadie Family Wines
The South African revolutionary
The Sadie Family Wines have revolutionised the South African landscape and inspired a whole generation of winemakers. A true visionary, Eben Sadie is generally regarded as SA’s best winemaker, having identified the very best old vines across the Cape, revived them with natural farming and captured their essence using simple, traditional winemaking. Since their maiden releases, the Sadie wines have become modern icons and are some of our country’s most sought-after and collected wines. Produced from 10 locally-grown Rhône white varieties, Palladius is a pure expression of the Swartland. As one of SA’s most highly-regarded white wines, the Palladius Vertical 2002-2013 (lot 39) is a highlight of the auction. Within the vertical, the 2011 is focused and precise with incredible energy and is sure to mature for another 10 years, easily.
Watch the interview >
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Vilafonté
SA’s most luxurious red wine brand
Vilafonté has been creating vinous luxury since 1996. The ground-breaking project saw a collaboration between wine industry greats, Mike Ratcliffe from South Africa (ex-owner of Warwick) and Phil Freese with Zelma Long from the United States. Their philosophy spoke to the pursuit of perfection with attention to detail of the highest priority. Today, the demand continues to grow and, with a wealth of accolades, Vilafonté has become a benchmark for South African Bordeaux blends.
Their Series C and M are some of the highest-scoring Bordeaux-style reds. The 2015 Vilafonté Series C (lots 75 & 76) is a standout wine on this auction. Still so youthful, with great depth and layers of flavours, this classic red is marked with elegance and the pedigree of the 2015 vintage clearly shines through.
Watch the interview >
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Vinous regards,
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