Timed Online Auction, 28 January - 9 February 2026

Provenance

The late David Brice was a respected wine connoisseur, collector and co-founder of Wine Cellar, fine wine merchants. His lifelong passion for wine from all corners of the world wine, and generosity, helped develop a culture of fine wine in South Africa and beyond. Always with value and authenticity in mind, the collection spans a wide range of styles from leading producers and diverse regions. The wines were professionally imported under refrigeration and carefully stored at Wine Cellar thereafter. Many of the producers are not available in South Africa and provide an excellent buying opportunity.

The Rhône valley was one of David's favoured regions, known for its diverse range of reds and whites. These were quintessential French wines from excellent easy-drinking, to fine, long-term treasures. He enjoyed wines from all the villages from Vaucluse to Vacqueyras, and Cornas to Côte-Rôtie. David focused on top vintages for long-term maturation and lesser vintages for earlier drinking. The highlight perhaps is his deep collection of top Châteauneuf-du-Pape from great vintages like 2010 and 2007.

For more detailed information on the lots, please feel free to contact Roland Peens (roland@winecellar.co.za). Roland spent many years sharing and enjoying these wines with David Brice and is happy to provide further insight into the collection.

Critics Ratings

‘Showing much more open and expressive than when I tasted it last year (or said another way, I under-rated it), the 2012 Côtes du Rhône Villages Vinsobres les Hauts de Julien comes from close to 100-year-old vines located in the northern part of the Southern Rhône. A blend of Syrah and Grenache that’s still in barrel, it offers thrilling notes of smoked dark fruits, pepper meats, graphite and big minerality to go with a full-bodied, focused, concentrated and serious feel on the palate. This is impressive across the board, and might be the greatest Vinsobres I’ve ever tasted. Short-term cellaring is advised, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this still drinking brilliantly at age 20. 2015-2032’ - Jeb Dunnuck, 94-96/100 (Oct 2014)-

‘Deep ruby. Potent smoke- and earth-accented dark berry and cherry liqueur aromas gain vivacity from a suave floral element. Sappy, palate-staining blueberry, bitter cherry and violet pastille flavors are given spine and back-end cut by juicy acidity. Clings with impressive tenacity on the gently tannic finish, which emphatically repeats the floral and smoke notes. 2017-2022’ - Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 92/100 (Jun 2016)

‘Deep red still with brick rim. Exotic spice – verging on incense – and still so much fruit even though the leaf-mulch bottle age is to the fore. Dry finesse on the palate, powder-fine texture still filled out by the fruit. 2015-2024’ - Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com, 16.5/20 (Oct 2021)