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

'Shows more elegant poise & harmony in youth, with fragrant red fruit & white pepper. 11 lithe, supple tannins & silkier texture than Granite bottling, but with inherent fruit purity & structure to age with distinction.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2014, 5*

'This marvel of a wine withstood comparison with the admittedly much more senior and subtle 1990 Hermitages from Chave and La Chapelle. Deep purple still. Still very youthful with admirable structure but very clean and lean initially, opening out to dense lusciousness with a rich, dusty undertow. Pretty magnificent Syrah on any level.' - Jancis Robinson 18/20 (2015)

'The 2011 Schist Syrah comes from a parcel of 16-year-old vines growing on shale and schist soils in the Riebeek Kasteel Mountains and was cropped on 8 February. It is whole bunch pressed and sees 50 months in 500-liter French oak of which half are new. The bouquet exhibits a little more fruit than the Granite Syrah, plush and feminine with pure mineral-rich cranberry and raspberry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins. The fruit is very expressive with pixelated raspberry coulis, fresh strawberry and subtle mint notes. There is spellbinding focus here and you immediately want to return to the glass for another sip, and another. Outstanding. Drink now-2020.' - Neal Martin 94/100, Wine Advocate (2013)