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

'This is probably the finest example of this cuvee since the 2003. Made from 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and the rest Mourvèdre, destemmed and aged in a mix of foudre, old barrels and small amounts of new barrels, it offers terrific purity in its black raspberry and cassis fruits, melted licorice and cured meat aromas and flavors. With full-bodied richness, beautiful mid-palate density and no hard edges, it's a joy to drink today but will certainly keep for another decade or more.' - Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate, 95/100 (Feb 2017)

'Sweet and spice and all things nice: red cherry fruit, classy vanilla with a twist of pepper and tactile tannins. Violets and talc on the finish with persistent persistence.' - Richard Hemming MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17/20 (Sep 2009)

'Lush and inviting, with crushed plum, currant and blackberry fruit flavors laid over velvety tannins. The long, graphite- and licorice-filled finish glides along beautifully, with solid grip in reserve. Best from 2010 through 2024.' - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, 93/100 (Oct 2009)

'Vivid ruby. Powerful, ripe scents of red and dark berry compote, cola, licorice and fruitcake. Broad, sweet dark berry flavors show a distinctly warm, liqueur-like personality but betray no rough edges. This has put on considerable weight since last year and displays the warm side of this vintage. The finish is creamy, sweet and very long, with echoes of cassis and mulberry. For its size and volume I find it surprisingly lively.' - Josh Raynolds, Vinous, 92/100 (Jan 2010)