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 2009 Cornas Champelrose, which I loved last year, has closed down somewhat, but still reveals extraordinary minerality, a dense purple color, and more new oak than I remember from barrel. It is clearly the most modern-styled wine from Courbis, with huge power, richness and intensity. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades. 2014-2034’ - Robert M. Parker, Jr., Wine Advocate, 91+/100 (Dec 2011)

'Inky purple. Complex, expansive bouquet of dark berry preserves, smoky minerals and spicy vanillin oak. The palate offers concentrated blackberry and boysenberry flavors and impressive back-end mineral lift. Gentle tannins add shape to the very long, sweet, penetrating finish. This wine will be drinkable soon but has the depth and balance to age.’ - Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 91/100 (Mar 2012)

‘Quite tightly formed berry and plum aromas. Bitter espresso, dark sweet fruit and black olive notes. Young stubbly tannins. A note of char, making the finish a little harsh and bitter. 2012-2017’ - Tamlyn Currin, jancisrobinson.com, 15.5+/20 (Nov 2010)