WINES FROM Distell, Kanonkop and Groot Constantia were the superstars at the 2018 Nederburg Auction in Paarl, fetching the top prices in highlighting the demand for old reds and sweet wine dating back as far as 1948. Three bottles of 70-year-old Monis Port sold for R21 000, a 50-year-old Chateau Libertas red blend attracted R5000 a bottle, magnums of Kanonkop Pinotage 2001 fetched an average of R4217 and R1500 per half-bottle was achieved for the 1996 vintage of Nederburg Edelkeur dessert wine.

The prices paid for the white wines on offer were lower but no less impressive, given that the majority were aged under 10, with some only three years old. And interestingly, there were more producers in contention for top honours, which went the way of a six-year-old Sauvignon Blanc from Hermanuspietersfontein (R833pb), Ken Forrester’s 2010 FMC Chenin (R735pb) and the 2015 vintage of DeMorgenzon Reserve Chardonnay (R667pb).

Among the biggest surprises was the sparkling performance of Le Lude of Franschhoek which dominated proceedings with their maiden vintage when Cap Classique came under the hammer. No Desiderius, Graham Beck, Simonsig or Villiera.

In total, 107 wines (6700 litres) were knocked down by auctioneer David Elswood of Christie’s, London. The average price fetched per bottle/750ml was a record R590, equating to overall sales of R5.26 million, with no unsold lots. For the full results and more information about the auction, click here. For the top prices paid, see below as regards the averages – all bottles 750ml unless stated otherwise.

 

TOP PRICES FOR RED WINES

Chateau Libertas 1968 – R5000 pb
6 bottles sold for R30 000 – Stellenbosch Cellar (Distell)

Chateau Libertas 1978 – R3333 pb
6 bottles sold for R20 000 – Stellenbosch Cellar (Distell)

Nederburg Cabernet Sauvignon 1975 – R3333 pb
6 bottles sold for R20 000 – Paarl Cellar (Distell)

Kanonkop Pinotage 2001 – R4217 pb (1.5L)
60 magnums sold for R253 000 – Simonsberg-Stellenbosch Cellar

Oude Libertas Pinotage 1978 – R3333 pb (1.5L)
3 magnums sold for R10 000 – Stellenbosch Cellar (Distell)

Groot Constantia Gouverneurs Reserve 2012 – R1500 pb
18 bottles sold for R27 000 – Constantia Cellar

Zonnebloem Pinotage 1978 – R1333 pb
6 bottles sold for R8000 – Stellenbosch Cellar (Distell)

Alto Shiraz 2008 – R1275 pb
120 bottles sold for R153 000 – Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch (Distell)

Groot Constantia Shiraz 2009 – 1250 pb
18 bottles sold for R22 500 – Constantia Cellar

Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 – R1200 pb
42 bottles sold for R50 400 – Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch (Distell)

Zonnebloem Laureat 1988 – R2333 pb (1.5L)
3 magnums sold for R7000 – Stellenbosch Cellar (Distell)

Nederburg R163 Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 – R1075 pb
240 bottles sold for R258 000 – Paarl Cellar (Distell)

Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2010 – R967 pb
180 bottles sold for R174 000 – Stellenbosch Cellar

Nederburg Ingenuity Italian Blend 2008 – R963 pb
48 bottles sold for R46 200 – Paarl Cellar (Distell)

Meerendal Heritage Block Pinotage 2010 – R887 pb
30 bottles sold for R26 600 – Durbanville Cellar

Clos Malverne Auret 2011 – R833 pb
12 bottles sold for R10 000 – Devon Valley Cellar, Stellenbosch

Beau Constantia Lucca 2011 – R811 pb
96 bottles sold for R77 900 – Constantia Cellar

Aaldering Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2007 – R800 pb
18 bottles sold for R14 400 – Devon Valley Cellar, Stellenbosch

Nederburg R181 Merlot 2009 – R764 pb
600 bottles sold for R458 600 – Paarl Cellar (Distell)

Hartenberg Shiraz 2006 – R755 pb
66 bottles sold for R49 800 – Bottelary Cellar, Stellenbosch

 

TOP PRICES FOR WHITE WINES

Hermanuspietersfontein Nr 5 2012 Sauvignon Blanc – R833 pb
18 bottles sold for R15 000 – Hermanus Cellar

Ken Forrester The FMC Chenin 2010 – R735 pb
60 bottles sold for R44 100 – Helderberg Cellar, Stellenbosch

DeMorgenzon Reserve Chardonnay 2015 – R667 pb
60 bottles sold for R40 000 – Stellenbosch Cellar

Delaire Graff White Reserve 2011 – R558 pb
36 bottles sold for R20 100 – Helshoogte Cellar, Stellenbosch

Bloemendal Suider Terras Sauvignon Blanc 2015 – R510 pb
60 bottles sold for R30 600 – Durbanville Cellar

Spioenkop Riesling 2013 – R493 pb
60 bottles sold for R29 600 – Elgin Cellar

De Wetshof Bateleur Chardonnay 2015 – R933 pb (1.5L)
18 magnums sold for R16 800 – Robertson Cellar

Fleur du Cap Unfiltered Chardonnay 2009 – R433 pb
36 bottles sold for R15 600 – Bergkelder Cellar, Stellenbosch (Distell)

Vergelegen G.V.B White 2013 – R430 pb
60 bottles sold for R25 800 – Somerset West Cellar

Bosman Optenhorst Chenin Blanc 2008 – R417 pb
60 bottles sold for R25 000 – Wellington Cellar

 

TOP PRICES FOR SPARKLING WINES

Le Lude Brut Agrafe 2012 Cap Classique – R967 pb 
30 bottles sold for R29 000 – Franschhoek Cellar

Le Lude Cuvée 2012 Cap Classique – R1800 pb (1.5L)
15 magnums sold for R27 000 – Franschhoek Cellar

Vondeling Rurale 2013 Ancestral – R867 pb
65 bottles sold for R5200 – Voor Paardeberg Cellar, Paarl

Le Lude Brut 2012 Cap Classique – R631 pb
36 bottles sold for R22 700 – Franschhoek Cellar

 

TOP PRICES FOR UNFORTIFIED DESSERTS

Nederburg Edelkeur Noble Late 1996 – R1500 pb (375ml)
6 bottles (375ml) sold for R9000 – Paarl Cellar (Distell)

Nederburg Eminence Noble Late 1998 – R1167 pb (375ml)
6 bottles (375ml) sold for R7000 – Paarl Cellar (Distell)

Fleur du Cap Noble Late – R500 pb (375ml)
24 bottles (375ml) sold for R12 000 – Bergkelder Cellar, Stellenbosch (Distell)

Nederburg Edelkeur Noble Late 2012 – R444 pb (375ml)
180 bottles (375ml) sold for R80 000 – Paarl Cellar (Distell)

Neethlingshof Maria Noble Late 2011 – R350 pb (375ml)
48 bottles (375ml) sold for R16 800 – Stellenbosch Cellar

 

TOP PRICE FOR FORTIFIED DESSERT

La Couronne Muscadel NV – R333 pb (375ml)
48 bottles (375ml) sold for R16 000

 

TOP PRICES FOR PORT-STYLE WINES

Monis Collectors Port 1948 – R7000 pb
3 bottles sold for R21 000 – Paarl Cellar (Distell)

Nederburg Port 1964 – R6333 pb
6 bottles sold for R38 000 – Paarl Cellar (Distell)

Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2004 – R745 pb
60 bottles sold for R44 700 – Calitzdorp Cellar

De Krans Cape Vintage Reserve 2004 – R632 pb
60 bottles sold for R37 900 – Calitzdorp Cellar