WOULDN’T it be something to see the luxury brands De Toren and 4G Wines slug it out in a head-to-head on auction, to test how seriously mature Meerlust Rubicon fares under the gavel against Kanonkop Paul Sauer of a similar age, or to get bidders to show which way they’re leaning these days when it comes to the sweets of Mullineux versus Klein Constantia Vin de Constance and Nederburg Edelkeur, say! As it happened, just ‘A Trio Of Legendary South African Producers’ were under the spotlight in Strauss & Co’s April 2021 fine wine sale conducted online: De Toren, Meerlust and Mullineux.

That said, we did get to witness some of the leading Bordeaux-style red blends from two Stellenbosch cellars take each other on in the ring, so to speak. Tied for top price paid was Meerlust’s 1984 Rubicon and De Toren’s way-younger 2011 edition of Book XVII. Also fetching more than R6K a bottle was De Toren’s 2012 Black Lion Shiraz – nearly triple the price obtained for the same vintage of Mullineux Schist Syrah from Riebeek-Kasteel. And wow, over R5000 for a tiny bottle of Mullineux’s Chenin Blanc Straw Wine! A 250ml, which translates to more than R17K for a standard 750ml. Another beauty from 2012.

See below for everythng that fetched over R2000 a bottle including the buyer’s premium and VAT – all 750ml unless stated otherwise. For the full results, click here.

 

DE TOREN

De Toren Black Lion 2012
R6449 paid for 1 bottle

De Toren Book XVII 2011
R6449 paid for 1 bottle

De Toren Fusion V 1999
R12 898 paid for 3 bottles: R4299pb

De Toren Fusion V 2006
R7622 paid for 1×1.5L bottle: R3811 / 750ml

De Toren Director’s Reserve 2009
R19 933 paid for 6 bottles: R3322pb

De Toren Director’s Res 2000, 2004, 2009, 2017
R12 898 paid for 4 bottles: R3224pb

De Toren Fusion V 2003
R5863 paid for 1×1.5L bottle: R2931 / 750ml

De Toren Fusion V 2001
R5863 paid for 1×1.5L bottle: R2931 / 750ml

De Toren Fusion V 2006
R9967 paid for 1×3L bottle: R2491 / 750ml

De Toren Fusion V 2009
R14 070 paid for 6 bottles: R2345pb

De Toren Fusion V 2008
R4456 paid for 1×1.5L bottle: R2228 / 750ml

MEERLUST

Meerlust Rubicon 1984
R12 898 paid for 1×1.5L bottle: R6449 / 750ml

Meerlust Rubicon 1994
R8794 paid for 2 bottles: R4397pb

Meerlust Rubicon 1992
R10 553 paid for 3 bottles: R3517pb

Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1982
R23 450 paid for 1×5L bottle: R3517 / 750ml

Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1978
R10 553 paid for 3 bottles: R3517pb

Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1980
R18 760 paid for 6 bottles: R3126pb

Meerlust Rubicon 2001
R17 588 paid for 3×1.5L bottles: R2931 / 750ml

Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1984
R5863 paid for 1×1.5L bottle: R2931 / 750 ml

Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1983
R5628 paid for 2 bottles: R2814pb

Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1986
R5277 paid for 2 bottles: R2638pb

MULLINEUX

Mullineux Essence 2012
R5863 paid for 1×250ml bottle: R17 589 / 750ml

Mullineux Olerasay No. 2 NV
R9967 paid for 3×375ml bottles: R6644 / 750ml

Mullineux Olerasay No. 1 NV
R15 243 paid for 6×375ml bottles: R5081 / 750ml

Mullineux Schist Syrah 2012
R6449 paid for 3 bottles: R2149pb