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
'This is rounded and very pure with good impact and immediate interest. There's plenty of juniper and thyme on the nose and palate over deep blackberry and loganberry fruit. This has depth, concentration and length and is very well-balanced with a driving vinosity. Should last well. A small, traditional family domaine of 4.5ha, across lieux-dits; Le Champin, Leyat, Les Moutonnes, Côte-Blonde, Fongeant and La Brosse. Grapes are destemmed, fermented with natural yeasts and aged for 15 months in barrel before bottling, 20% new. 2023-2031' - Matt Walls, Decanter, 95/100 (Oct 2019)
'The 2018 Cote Rotie (100% Syrah brought up mostly in neutral barrels) has a deeper, darker character in its blackberry and currant-like fruits as well as notes of scorched earth, peppered meat, graphite, and crushed stone-like minerality. It's rich and medium to full-bodied, with terrific balance and outstanding length. While the 2017 is upfront and ready to go, this is a longer-term prospect and needs a good 4-5 years of bottle age. Drink: After 2025' - Jeb Dunnuck, 94+/100 (May 2021)
'Tasted blind. Lovely clarity of fruit: cherry, blackcurrant, plum. Succulent mouthfeel, fine tannins, good persistence and depth on the length. Deserves time. 2021-2031' - Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com, 17+/20 (Oct 2019)
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