Saint-Estephe 2016

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.

David celebrated the variation of vintage but also took advantage of great vintages. Over the last 10 years the 2016s have proven to be one of the greatest modern-day Bordeaux vintages, on par or superior to the likes of 2010, 2009 or 2005. Across Bordeaux, the wines are structured and pure combining exotic notes and sweet fruit. As part of our annual 10-year auction, we showcase 2016 Bordeaux vintage which will delight over many decades, especially in large format. David also bought the highly regarded Italian vintage, which produced exceptional wines in Piedmont and Tuscany especially.

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

'Pure liquid velvet, sings of restrained elegance. Inky plum in colour, full intensity, with decades ahead of it, signature St Estèphe power and character. Damson, black cherry, olive tapenade, liquorice, slate, earth, closing in on bitter almond and dark chocolate on the finish. Harvest 27 September to 16 October. Strongly suggest that you leave this open for a good few hours before tasting if going anywhere near it soon (we had it in a carafe for four hours before serving). 100% new oak, with just 35% of production in the grand vin because so much replanting had been done over the previous decade. 2026-2050' - Jane Anson, janeanson.com, 98/100 (Oct 2022)

'Tasted blind. Dark glowing blackish crimson. Quite big and brawny on the nose – certainly attention grabbing! Remarkably approachable even though it clearly has ageing potential. All the elements are there and shining brightly. Very vigorous finish that goes on and on. 2025-2045' - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com, 18/20 (Jan 2020)

'The 2016 Calon-Ségur has a very concentrated, multifaceted bouquet of blackberry, blueberry, cedar and wild mint. I adore this – so involving and so intoxicating! The palate is very well balanced with succulent tannins and a fine bead of acidity, full of tension and poise. Black cherry and blueberry emerge toward the satisfying, complete finish. A gorgeous Saint-Estèphe. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. 2023-2055' - Neal Martin, Vinous, 96/100 (Jan 2020)

'A monumental wine in the making, the 2016 Château Calon-Ségur is blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot that spent a full 20 months in all new French oak. It offers an incredibly powerful, concentrated, classic style in its crème de cassis, graphite, scorched earth, tobacco, and lead pencil aromas and flavors. These give way to an inky, full-bodied 2016 that has perfectly integrated acidity and tannins, subtle background oak, thrilling depth and purity of fruit, and a great, great finish. My money is on it being the greatest wine ever made at this address.' - Jeb Dunnuck, 97/100 (Feb 2019)

'The 2016 Calon-Ségur is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot aged in 100% new French oak for 20 months. Deep garnet-purple colored, it is a little closed to begin, slowly revealing warm red and black currants, kirsch and plum preserves with wafts of fragrant earth, violets, chocolate box and wood smoke. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly expressed and finely crafted, it has a wonderfully fine-grained texture and bold freshness supporting the densely packed black fruits, finishing long and mineral-laced. 2021-2045' - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate, 96/100 (Nov 2018)