Rhône-Style Wines
Timed Online Auction, 28 January - 9 February 2026
The Distinguished Cellar of David Brice: A Rhône Collection
About the SessionThe 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.
About this Item
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
'Fascinating demonstration of the effect of two soil types on Swartland shiraz. Identical vinification for this & schist-grown version. Impressive 11 is muscular & tightly coiled, with brooding dark fruit & minerality. Structure & class to age for 10+ years, like 10.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2014, 5*
'The 2011 Granite Syrah comes from a parcel of 18-year-old bush vines grown on decomposed granite in the Paardeberg Mountains. Cropped on 2 February, they were "foot-stomped" (to used Chris's vernacular) in 500-liter open-top barrels where they spend 18 months (50% new.) I feel that the terroir is expressed with greater clarity on the nose, which is not as immediate as the schist, but offers more nuance and complexity. Peer in and your nose picks up hints of terracotta under a baking sun. The palate is edgier than the schist, the acidity slightly more noticeable and lending great tension on the finish. It is slightly more introspective than Chris and Andrea Mullineux's other wines, but it offers impressive length and wonderful precision. Superb. Drink now-2020.' - Neal Martin, 95/100 Wine Advocate (2013)
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