Sodi di San Niccolo 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

‘Castellare's I Sodi di San Niccolò is the single most overlooked high-end wine in Tuscany today. The 2016 picks up where the 2015 left off. A rush of inky dark fruit, lavender, spice, licorice, gravel, blueberry and menthol builds as the 2016 shows off its exceptional balance and pedigree. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2016 needs a few years in bottle to fully come together. Even so, the 2016 has been nothing less than spectacular on the two occasions I have tasted it so far. In a word: monumental. 2026-2041’ - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, 98/100 (Aug 2020)

'This is a true beauty and a wine that makes a lasting impact. I came back to my opened bottle some 24 hours later, and the wine tasted even better. It shows enormous purity and focus, with specific aromas that remind you of its Tuscan origins. Those aromas are very Mediterranean in character with rosemary and crushed lavender, followed by wild cherry, dried raspberry and cassis. The tannins are elegant and finely integrated, and the wine leaves nothing but long, polished sensations behind. This is one of the best vintages of I Sodi di S. Niccolò I have encountered in 20 years.' - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 96+/100 (Mar 2021)

‘A blend of 85% Sangiovese and 15% Malvasia Nera, this has aromas of cedar, leather, French oak and a whiff of underbrush. Linear and on the lighter end of medium-bodied, the palate offers juicy Morello cherry, blood orange, coffee bean and ground clove before grainy tannins grip the close.’ - Kerin O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast, 91/100 (Jul 2021)

‘Deep garnet. Intense, Sangiovese cocktail - presumably informed by the vintage. More dramatic than the 2017, but arguably less typically Tuscan. 2023-2030’ - Jancis Robinson, jancisrobinson.com, 16.5/20 (Jan 2023)