Bordeaux Theme
Live Virtual Auction, 26 March 2023
Bordeaux Fine Wine
Incl. Buyer's Premium & VAT
About this Item
Chris and Suzanne Alheit set the wine world on fire with their maiden 2011 Cartology receiving 96 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate. Aiming to harness the best old vineyards across the Cape, the Cartology offered a textured old-vine Chenin Blanc Semillon blend with startling purity and depth. Passionate and focused on the expression of place, tiny, long-forgotten parcels were added to the range, and are today South Africa’s most profound white wines. We auction maiden vintages of Magnetic Makstok on the legendary ‘Skurfkop’ in the Citrusdal area, Huilkrans in the Paardeberg, La Colline in Franschhoek, and, extremely rare Radio Lazarus in Stellenbosch.
When most people think of Franschhoek, they think of a beautiful little town surrounded by even more beautiful mountains. Not many people know that Franschhoek is the capital of old vine Semillon in the Cape. For wine people, these parcels are a bit of a national treasure.
La Colline is the name of a fruit farm on the southern slopes of the Dassenberg and is home to one of the true greats of Cape heritage vineyards. The vines were planted in 1936 by Antonie Roux, the grandfather of the current farmer Anton Roux. It’s situated between 310 and 350m above sea-level on quartz rich sandstone and granite soil. During summer, these tightly planted bushvines form a wild looking mess of life and grapes. In winter they resemble a crowd of drunkards cartwheeling across the slope. It is a beautiful old thing.
These vines are related to the original vineyard material brought to the Cape in the mid-1600s. Generations of farmers selecting their plants over centuries has led to some unique genetics: parcels of vines like this have several different colours of Semillon growing side by side in a gnarly mess of vine wood: Gris, Rose, Blanc, Vert at the very least. This is very Cape DNA.
Critics Ratings
‘Wonderfully expressive of 80+ year Franschhoek Semillon vineyard. 2017 shows exuberant, ripely scented lemon rind and spices. The wine’s richness and full body is invigorated by sheer concentration of flavour, firm dry finish. Excellent potential. Fermented/aged in ‘youngest’ old oak (4-5 years) ”as it needs to breathe”.’ – Platter’s SA Wine Guide 2019, 5* (95/100)
‘Chris Alheit is one of a small and privileged group who buy fruit from Anton Roux’s 1936 vineyard on the southern side of Dassenberg. Dense and richly coloured, it has yeasty, savoury, choux pastry and jasmine notes and a broad, skillfully oaked finish. 2020-27.’ – Tim Atkin SA Special Report 2018, 94/100
'Dark- and light-skinned Sémillon are picked together, then whole-bunch pressed and fermented together for this stunning wine. Pure and direct, it opens with pristine aromas of fresh melon, yellow apple, white strawberry hull and honeysuckle, with a touch of ocean breeze in the back. The palate is bright and lively, with laser-cut acidity and a beautiful seam of stony minerality that weaves throughout the yellow apple, spiced orange and Anjou pear flavors. It's harmonious, complete and superbly balanced, with a lingering ginger-peach-tea accent on the close. Drink 2020–2030.' – Lauren Buzzeo, Wine Enthusiast, 95/100 (May 2019)
Provenance
Coats Family Cellar
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