THE LAST Strauss & Co Fine Wine Online Auction in 2020 comprised a sale of ultra rare Bordeaux, beginning with Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux-style red blends from the Cape and finishing with some of the best from France.

Top price paid for a South African beauty was R32 830 for a single bottle of 1966 GS Cabernet – not far off the record price of R34 140 paid for a bottle of this somewhat mysterious ‘experiment’ at the inaugural Strauss wine auction in June 2019. The winemaker was George Spies, who at the time worked for Monis in Paarl. The grapes are thought to have come from Durbanville. Scored 20/20 in 2015 by renowned British wine critic Jancis Robinson MW.

For the full results and more info about the auction, click here. See below for the 20 SA wines that fetched over R2000 a bottle – most of them WO Stellenbosch, i.e. except for the GS Cab, with Cordoba giving Meerlust, Rustenberg and Kanonkop a run for their money.

IN DEMAND ON AUCTION

GS Cabernet 1966
R32 830 paid for 1x750ml bottle

Cordoba Crescendo 1995
R8794 paid for 2x750ml bottles – R4397pb

Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1975
R11 725 paid for 3x750ml bottles – R3908pb

Rustenberg Cabernet Sauvignon 1975
R3518 paid for 1x750ml bottle

Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2015
R21 105 paid for 6x750ml bottles – R3517pb

Meerlust Rubicon 1995
R21 105 paid for 6x750ml bottles – R3517pb

Rustenberg Cabernet Sauvignon 1973
R2932 paid for 1x750ml bottle

Cordoba CWG Auction Reserve 2001
R8794 paid for 3x750ml bottles – R2931pb

MR De Compostella 2009
R16 415 paid for 6x750ml bottles – R2736pb

Kanonkop Paul Sauer 1994, 1995, 1996
R52 763 paid for 3x5L bottles – R2638/750ml

Cordoba Crescendo 2000
R9967 paid for 4x750ml bottles – R2492pb

Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2005
R14 070 paid for 6x750ml bottles – R2345pb

Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2009
R14 070 paid for 6x750ml bottles – R2345pb

Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1984
R14 070 paid for 6x750ml bottles – R2345pb

Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1991
R14 070 paid for 6x750ml bottles – R2345pb

Meerlust Rubicon 2000
R14 070 paid for 6x750ml bottles – R2345pb

MR De Compostella 2008
R14 070 paid for 6x750ml bottles – R2345pb

Rust en Vrede Cabernet Sauvignon 1986
R9380 paid for 1x3L bottle – R2345/750ml

Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1986
R10 553 paid for 5x750ml bottles – R2111pb

Glenelly Lady May 2009
R8208 paid for 1x3L bottle – R2052/750ml