Cape Heritage, Sweets, Fortifieds and Spirits
Timed Online Auction, 7 - 14 August 2023
Cape Heritage
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
The GS 1966 Cabernet is shrouded in mystery and remains South Africa’s rarest wine. The GS Cabernet was an experiment by George Spies, then winemaker at Monis, in 1966 and 1968. His aim was to produce a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon that had the ability to age, which was not common at the time. There is a mystery surrounding the winemaking, reportedly sourced from Durbanville. The bottles were given away by Spies, reportedly very tannic and rustic in its youth. As the wine matured, rare bottles become recognised by pundits such as Michael Fridjhon and James Molesworth of Wine Spectator. Today, there can’t be more than a 2 dozen pristine bottles in existence.
This wine has been checked and re-corked by Amorim cork under supervision of auction curator Higgo Jacobs, assuring provenance, quality and long life. Seal code Tg-380587 can be traced on Amorim Recorking Directory
Critics Ratings
'A truly iconic wine in South African wine history kindly brought to a lunch at Test Kitchen by Roland Peens of retailer Wine Cellar. Absolutely stunning – such a beautiful combination of maturity and delicacy – but with far more fruit integrity than most 1966 red Bordeaux would have now. Perhaps it was hard work in its youth but I imagine it will be at least a few months before I taste a mature Cabernet as good as this. Apparently, it was once compared with Ch Margaux 1966 and knocked spots off it, but Palmer would probably have put up more of a fight. Lightly minty, fragrant and it spread right across the palate with satin texture. Gorgeous. The only other known vintage was 1968, I was told.’ – Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 20/20 (2011)
‘Absolutely stunning – such a beautiful combination of maturity and delicacy – but with far more fruit integrity than most 1966 red Bordeaux would have now. Perhaps it was hard work in its youth but I imagine it will be at least a few months before I tasted a mature Cabernet as good as this. Apparently it was once compared with Ch Margaux 1966 and knocked spots off it, but Palmer would probably have put up more of a fight. Lightly minty, fragrant and it spread right across the palate with satin texture. Gorgeous. The only other known vintage was 1968, I was told.’ - Jancis Robinson MW, JanicsRobinson.com, 20/20 (Jan 2015)
‘Concentrated, deep-crimson color. Pauillac like weight and textures. Still some berry freshness. Ample spice, mid-palate tarry sweetness balancing fresh but well-integrated tannins.’ - Michael Fridjhon, 19/20
‘First of all, it is incredibly fresh. One would be hard-pressed to think it is 15 or 20 years old, never mind 49. Secondly, it quite different to the Latour, less Bordeaux and more sublime New World Cabernet. The nose explodes with layers of red and black fruits – hauntingly deep, detailed and balanced. A meaty, savoury edge starts building with air, adding complexity to the immense fruit purity. Finely etched tannins form a towering structure and carry an enormously long and moreish finish. We were lucky to have such an incredible bottle and I agree with Jancis: it’s a perfect wine and should easily age another 50 years.’ - Roland Peens (2015)
Provenance
Private Client
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