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

‘The 2015 Cornas offers up tons of red and black fruits, saddle leather, dried flowers and spice aromas and flavors, full-bodied richness, no hard edges and sweet, polished tannin. It's impeccably balanced, has a classic style, and is a smoking good value.’ - Jeb Dunnuck, 94/100

‘This has a racy, chalky underpinning that is well-integrated and provides nice contrast to the rich core of crushed plum and boysenberry fruit. Light anise, violet and rosemary notes thread the lengthy finish. Rock-solid’ - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 93/100

‘A lighter style of Cornas with fine tannins and a mineral seam. Underneath the vibrant fruit there is an intriguing leathery herbal character which makes for an interesting sip with fine grip. 2019-2026’ - Decanter, 91/100 (Oct 2017)

'Lurid ruby. Spice-accented black and blue fruits, succulent flowers and smoky minerals on the highly perfumed nose. Juicy and focused in the mouth, offering energetic boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors that become spicier on the back half. The floral note returns on a spicy, clinging finish framed by smooth tannins. 2022-2027’ - Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 91/100 (Feb 2018)