Mackenzie rubs shoulders with Paul Sauer in auction of top blends
SHEW! Over R85 000 paid for one of the most expensive wines in the world, a single bottle of the Merlot-driven Petrus, 1989 vintage, and nearly R74K forked out for another top wine from Bordeaux, three bottles of ‘first growth’ blend Haut-Brion, also 30 years old. But arguably more impressive at the Strauss & Co / Wine Cellar auction conducted online during Sunday 10 May were the prices paid for much younger reds from South African vineyards. In particular: over R35K for a case of five-year-old Paul Sauer from Kanonkop and nearly R32K for six bottles of Mackenzie from Hartenberg (pictured above), also WO Stellenbosch and half the age of the French wines.
Prior to the auction, these Bordeaux-style red blends from Kanonkop and Hartenberg were estimated to fetch between R10K and R12K a case, a third of what they sold for. Were the organisers surprised? “Our role,” says Wine Cellar director Roland Peens, “is to provide reasonable estimates to the market, but [sommelier] Higgo [Jacobs], the Strauss & Co team and I were blown away by some of the prices. We feel this is a strong step forward in formalising the secondary wine market in South Africa.”
The ‘Fine Wine Bordeaux-Themed Auction’ followed the Rhône-themed sale held by Strauss & Co held earlier in the year. “We accepted pre-bids and were able to reach deep into the market,” reported Peens. “Not only did thousands of viewers watch the auction live, but there was an incredible 533 registered bidders! The fine wine list finally matched the depth of competitive bidding which resulted in some amazing prices.
“While there were registrations from over 20 countries, 90% of the bids were made by South African individuals. Unfortunately no more detail can be provided,” said Peens. Total sales fetched R2.1m. “I am sure the Petrus 1989 is the most expensive wine ever auctioned in South Africa, even though it’s a fair international market price,” he commented. And “this was our first ever white-glove sale, where all 115 lots were sold.”
Perhaps not surprising that the 2015 Kanonkop Paul Sauer attracted the bids it did. There’s been a lot of hype around the wine, some rave reviews of this vintage by critics locally and internationally. The brand is famous! However, Hartenberg is more renowned for Shiraz. “The world’s best Shiraz,” as they say. “The Mackenzie with its backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon, is our flagship red blend. The Mackenzie recognizes the current family in a 400 year lineage of owners. This wine represents a single vineyard block where Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes grow side by side…” That’s it. Although those in the know also regard it as one of South Africa’s finest – one of the Top 20 in the SA Red Blend Classification.
For the auction highlights in terms of the South African wines on offer, see below – listed in descending order according to the price fetched per bottle (750ml unless stated otherwise). For the full results and more about the auction, click here and here.
AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2015
R35 241 for 6 bottles: R5873pb
Hartenberg Mackenzie 2005
R31 830 for 6 bottles: R5305pb
Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1982
R19 907 for 1x3L bottle: R4977pb
Uitkyk Carlonet 1982
R19 907 for 1x3L bottle: R4977pb
Keet First Verse 2011
R28 420 for 6 bottles: R4737pb
Meerlust Rubicon 2001
R17 567 for 1x3L bottle: R4391pb
Lanzerac Cabernet 1961
R12 881 for 6x375ml bottles: R4294pb
Lanzerac Cabernet 1963
R12 881 for 6x375ml bottles: R4294pb
Vilafonté Series C 2009
R23 873 for 6 bottles: R3979pb
Delaire Graff Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2011
R23 420 for 6 bottles: R3903pb
Meerlust Rubicon 1995
R45 472 for 12 bottles: R3789pb
Hartenberg Mackenzie 2009-2011
R11 125 for 3 bottles: R3708pb
MR de Compostella 2004-2009
R22 249 for 6 bottles: R3708pb
De Trafford Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
R21 078 for 6 bottles: R3513pb
Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
R21 078 for 6 bottles: R3513pb
Rustenberg Peter Barlow 1998
R21 078 for 6 bottles: R3513
Vergelegen V 2005
R21 078 for 6 bottles: R3513pb
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2009
R19 907 for 6 bottles: R3318pb
Meerlust Rubicon 1992
R19 907 for 6 bottles: R3318pb
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2003
R18 736 for 6 bottles: R3123pb
Meerlust Rubicon 1994
R18 736 for 6 bottles: R3123pb
Vilafonté Series M 2007
R18 736 for 6 bottles: R3123pb
De Toren Fusion V 2002
R17 565 for 6 bottles: R2927
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2002
R17 565 for 6 bottles: R2927pb
Meerlust Merlot 1994
R17 565 for 6 bottles: R2927pb
Rustenberg Peter Barlow 2009
R17 565 for 6 bottles: R2927pb
Vilafonté Series M 2005
R17 565 for 6 bottles: R2927pb
Uiterwyk Cabernet Sauvignon 1974
R8783 for 3 bottles: R2928pb
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 1991
R34 104 for 12 bottles: R2842pb
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 1999
R34 104 for 12 bottles: R2842pb
Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
R16 394 for 6 bottles: R2732pb
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2012
R16 394 for 3×1.5L bottles: R2732pb
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 1998
R31 830 for 12 bottles: R2652pb
Meerlust Rubicon 1992
R31 830 for 12 bottles: R2652pb
De Toren Fusion V 2010
R10 539 for 1x3L bottle: R2635pb
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2010
R5270 for 1×1.5L bottle: R2635pb
Stellenbosch Cabernet Collective 2015
R30 694 for 12 bottles: R2558pb
Hartenberg Mackenzie 2007-2009
R7612 for 3 bottles: R2537pb
Le Riche Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2007
R15 223 for 6 bottles: R2537pb
Jordan Cobbler’s Hill 2001
R14 052 for 6 bottles: R2342pb
Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon 1995
R14 052 for 6 bottles: R2342pb
Meerlust Rubicon 1993
R14 052 for 6 bottles: R2342pb
Morgenster Estate 2000
R14 052 for 6 bottles: R2342pb
Stellenryk Cabernet Sauvignon 1980
R14 052 for 6 bottles: R2342pb
Hartenberg Mackenzie 2003
R8783 for 4 bottles: R2196pb
De Toren Fusion V 2004
R12 881 for 6 bottles: R2147pb
Raats Cabernet Franc 2013
R12 881 for 6 bottles: R2147
Thelema Cabernet Sauvignon 1993
R12 881 for 6 bottles: R2147pb
Veenwouden Classic 2001
R8197 for 4 bottles: R2049pb
Ernie Els Signature 2000
R11 710 for 6 bottles: R1952pb
Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
R23 420 for 12 bottles: R1952pb
Morgenster Estate 2004
R23 420 for 6×1.5L bottles: R1952pb
Raats Cabernet Franc 2005
R11 710 for 6 bottles: R1952pb
Vergelegen Estate 1998
R11 710 for 6 bottles: R1952pb
Nederburg Paarl Cabernet Sauvignon 1980
R11 125 for 6 bottles: R1854pb
Rupert & Rothschild Baron Edmond 2008
R11 125 for 6 bottles: R1854pb
Warwick Cabernet Franc 1999
R11 125 for 6 bottles: R1854pb
Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 1997
R10 539 for 3×1.5L bottles: R1756pb
Alto Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
R14 052 for 4×1.5L bottles: R1756pb
Glenelly Lady May 2008-2013
R10 539 for 6 bottles: R1756pb
Ernie Els Signature 2000
R19 907 for 12 bottles: R1659pb
Neil Ellis CIWG Auction Reserve 1992
R9954 for 6 bottles: R1659pb
Thelema Merlot 2001
R9954 for 6 bottles: R1659pb
Veenwouden Merlot 1999
R9954 for 6 bottles: R1659pb
Plaisir de Merle Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
R18 736 for 12 bottles: R1561pb
Warwick Trilogy 2005
R9368 for 6 bottles: R1561pb
Constantia Glen Five 2008
R8783 for 6 bottles: R1464pb
Diemersdal Estate Red 1985
R8783 for 6 bottes: R1464pb
Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2011
R8783 for 6 bottles: R1464pb
Warwick Trilogy 2011
R17 565 for 12 bottles: R1464pb
Buitenverwachting Christine 2001
R8197 for 6 bottles: R1366pb
Meerlust Rubicon 2007
R16 394 for 12 bottles: R1366pb
Tokara Director’s Reserve Red 2012
R8197 for 6 bottles: R1366pb
Warwick Blue Lady Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
R8197 for 6 bottles: R1366pb
Delaire Graff Botmaskop 2011
R15 223 for 12 bottles: R1269pb
Morgenster Estate 2001
R7612 for 6 bottles: R1269pb
Tokara Director’s Reserve White 2014
R7612 for 6 bottles: R1269pb
