CAN YOU BELIEVE IT! Just after a case of Alheit’s 2017 Radio Lazarus sold for R34 140, i.e. R5690pb, a single bottle of the 2018 vintage sold for R25 036, followed by a bottle of the 2012 for R6449… Whether or not whoever paid over R25K thought he or she was buying one or six bottles of this wine of which only 72 were made (vs 165 cases of the 2017), according to co-convenor of the Strauss & Co fine wine auction Roland Peens of Cape Town retailer Wine Cellar, the price paid for this Chenin set a new record as regards the “highest price for any young South African wine”. Extremely rare, no longer in production… Prior to the sale, the bottle of 2018 was estimated to fetch R6K to R8K, and yet!

The auction, held in Johannesburg on 10 October 2021, was billed as “A trio of prestigious South African Producers”: Alheit Vineyards of Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, Sadie Family outside Malmesbury and Vilafonté of Stellenbosch. To see what fetched over R5000 a bottle including the buyer’s premium and VAT, scroll down, and for the full results, click here.

TOP PRICES PAID ON THE DAY

Alheit Radio Lazarus 2018
R25 036 paid for 1×750ml. Chenin Blanc. WO Bottelary, Stellenbosch.

Sadie Columella 2000 – 2011
R113 800 paid for 12×750ml: R9483 per bottle. Red blend. WO Swartland.

Sadie Columella 2010
R51 210 paid for 6×750ml: R8535 per bottle. Red blend. WO Swartland.

Sadie Ou Wingerdreeks 2009
R45 520 paid for 6×750ml: R7586 per bottle. First vintages of old vine single vineyard series: Skurfberg, Kokerboom, Pofadder, ‘T Voetpad, Eselshoek, Mev Kirsten. WO Swartland.

Alheit Radio Lazarus 2012
R6449 paid for 1×750ml. Chenin Blanc. WO Bottelary, Stellenbosch.

Sadie Columella 2004
R12 898 paid for 1×1.5L: R6449 per 750ml. Red blend. WO Swartland.

Vilafonté Series C 2011
R25 036 paid for 2×1.5L: R6259 per 750ml. Cabernet Sauvignon-based red blend. WO Simonsberg-Paarl.

Vilafonté Series C 2004
R25 036 paid for 1×3L: R6259 per 750ml. Cabernet Sauvignon-based red blend. WO Simonsberg-Paarl.

Sadie Columella 2003 – 2008
R36 416 paid for 6×750ml: R6069 per bottle. Red blend. WO Swartland.

Sadie Columella 2001
R36 416 paid for 6×750ml: R6069 per bottle. Red blend. WO Swartland.

Alheit Magnet North Mountain Makstok 2013
R5863 paid for 1×750ml. Chenin Blanc. WO Citrusdal (Skurfberg).

Vilafonté Series C 2015
R11 725 paid for 1×1.5L: R5862 per 750ml. Cabernet Sauvignon-based red blend. WO Simonsberg-Paarl.

Alheit Radio Lazarus 2017
R34 140 paid for 6×750ml: R5690 per bottle. Chenin Blanc. WO Bottelary, Stellenbosch.

Sadie Columella 2005 – 2010
R34 140 paid for 6×750ml: R5690 per bottle. Red blend. WO Swartland.

Sadie Columella 2003
R34 140 paid for 6×750ml: R5690 per bottle. Red blend. WO Swartland.

Sadie Mev Kirsten 2015
R31 864 paid for 6×750ml: R5310 per bottle. Chenin Blanc. WO Stellenbosch (Jonkershoek).

Vilafonté Series C 2009
R31 864 paid for 6×750ml: R5310 per bottle. Cabernet Sauvignon-based red blend. WO Simonsberg-Paarl.

Vilafonté Series C 2003
R31 864 paid for 6×750ml: R5310 per bottle. Cabernet Sauvignon-based red blend. WO Simonsberg-Paarl.