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 2017 Rall Red is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cinsault that is matured in 225- and 500-liter French oak. It has a perfumed, quite sensual bouquet of pressed violet and potpourri aromas entwined with black cherries and blueberry fruit. The medium-bodied palate displays very fine tannins that frame exceedingly pure black and blueberry fruit laced with truffle, Provençal herbs and white pepper. It feels very persistent as it fans out on the finish, completing an outstanding Rall Red, one of the best that Donovan Rall has produced thus far.' - Neal Martin, Vinous, 95/100 (Nov 2019)

'Blend of Syrah, Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan, which Rall claims were all grown on the soils most suited to them. Dark purplish crimson. Quite inky and Syrah-dominated on the nose. Really mouth-filling - long and broad - this guy really does have the magic touch. How does he manage to squeeze so much freshness from Swartland fruit? Must be those soils. There is sweetness on the end and a little granite graininess of texture. Absolutely lovely already.' - Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Jun 2020)

'The Syrah down to 58% on 2017, with Carignan, Grenache, Cinsaut - winningly perfumed, but that's just the teaser. Concentrated, dense flavours but not at all heavy, the palate with large but well-upholstered tannin structure. Already complex, but needing a good few years to fully resolve.' - Platter's SA Wine Guide 2020, 4.5* (94 pts)

'Illustrating the energy, focus and balance of the 2017 vintage, this is Syrah based with 25% Carignan, Cinsault and Grenache, this is always a very well-judged cuvée that consistently delivers more than the sum of its considerable parts. Savoury, sappy and denser than you think at first, it has considerable grip and ageing potential. 2022-29' - Tim Atkin SA Special Report 2019, 94/100