Saint-Émilion 2009

Provenance

The late David Brice was a respected wine connoisseur, collector and co-founder of Brice and Burnett – The Fine Wine Specialists (formerly Wine Cellar). 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 Brice and Burnett (formerly Wine Cellar) thereafter. Many of the producers are not available in South Africa and provide an excellent buying opportunity.

David studied and tasted Bordeaux more than any other region and he purchased en-primeur, or pre-release, for more than 3 decades. He bought the great vintages, loved magnums, and enjoyed the sweet wines of Sauternes. The cellar contains the famous names, but also highly regarded but lesser-known Chateaux and appellations.

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 Magrez-Fombrauge has a deep garnet core with little ageing on the rim. The bouquet is attractive with melted red berry fruit, black olive compote and light desiccated orange peel aromas, nicely defined and elegant in style. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, gentle grip, quite savory with Chinese 5-spice and white pepper sprinkled over the finish. It feels like some ripe Cabernet Franc here (even though it is 100% Merlot) and the aftertaste is commendably long. Very fine.' - Neal Martin, Vinous, 92/100 (Feb 2019)

'Dense and ripe, but sleek and tautly framed, with a nice iron edge to the plum sauce, blackberry preserves and tangy red currant fruit flavors. The long finish lets the minerality hang nicely, as the fruit fills in behind. There's lovely acidity here, too.' - Wine Spectator, 92/100 (2012)

'The 2009 Fombrauge has the potential to be the finest wine ever made at this property. Michel Rolland is the consulting oenologist in the vineyard, which sits in the southern sector of St.-Emilion known as St.-Christophe des Bardes. It was picked very late in 2009, and the result is a powerhouse wine with an inky blue/purple color and the smell of pen ink, acacia flowers, blueberries, black raspberries and cassis. The wine hit 15% natural alcohol, which gives it lots of glycerin as well as a full-bodied intensity, while the low yields of 27 hectoliters per hectare have provided a striking level of concentration and length. This is very serious wine from an estate that is on the upswing. It should benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring and keep for two decades.' - Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, 92/100 (Dec 2011)