Côtes du Rhône 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

‘This has a very plush, luscious and generously fleshy feel. Cherry compote, raspberries, blackberries and plums. Tarry elements, too. Smooth, velvety, pure and even. Succulence, elegance and clarity. Such value here. Drink or hold.’ - James Suckling, JamesSuckling,com, 94/100

‘Plenty of juicy Grenache strawberry fruit on the nose. It is full-bodied, expressive and athletic on the palate, really juicy with ample acidity and ripe tannins. Not hugely complex, but really concentrated and well balanced, putting many lesser Châteauneufs to shame.' - Matt Walls, Decanter, 92/100

‘Bottled three weeks ago, the 2016 Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel sports a deep ruby/purple color as well as terrific freshness in its blueberry, violets, raspberry, and spring flower aromas and flavors. Showing the vintages purity and elegance, it still packs ample oomph and richness. Drink it over the coming decade. One of the old guards of the region, Château de Beaucastel is nevertheless one of the most progressive and forward-thinking estates out there.’ - Jeb Dunnuck, 92/100 (Aug 2018)

‘The 2016 Côtes du Rhône Coudoulet de Beaucastel was bottled just two weeks before my visit, hence the plus sign attached to its rating. Planted just outside the boundaries of the Châteauneuf-du-Pape appellation, the vines here average 80 years old. Mouthwatering aromas of red fruit and spice lead the way, backed by a full-bodied wine that's creamy and lush but also silky and vibrant. As always, it's one of the best Côtes du Rhône wines from a given vintage... Certainly, the wines are breathtaking at the upper levels, but the Perrin family continues to put effort into the entry-level wines as well, from the Coudelet de Beaucastel, which is always one of the top Côtes du Rhône wines, to the other wines reviewed under the Famille Perrin heading. ‘ - Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, 92+/100 (Aug 2018)

‘Lovely savoury, classic, leathery style with dried fruit. Finely ground tannins and moderate length. There's as much of a savoury note as you would hope for, so it's probably not worth ageing much further. 2020-2026’ - Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com, 16.5/20