Mullineux & Leeu Studio, Franschhoek

RATHER IMPRESSIVE! At the sale of 10-year-old wines by the South African auction house Strauss & Co, somebody paid over R4000 for a bottle of dessert wine from Andrea and Chris Mullineux’s Roundhouse farm outside Malmesbury in the Swartland. The bottle of ‘Essence’ is just 250ml in size, which would put the cost of a standard 750ml equivalent at over R12 000. This is more than what was fetched for any other wine on the day, including R10 748 and R9380 a bottle respectively for the red blends Mouton Rothschild 2012 and Haut-Brion 2012, both from Bordeaux, France, as well as R7035 for a bottle of Sassicaia 2012 from Tuscany, Italy.

See below for details of all the SA wines in most demand at this March 2022 online-only auction – all of those fetching over R1000 a bottle, including the buyer’s premium and VAT. For the full results, click here.

Mullineux Essence 2012 (Chenin Blanc)
Straw Wine; WO Swartland (Kasteelberg & Paardeberg)
R4104 paid for 1×250ml bottle: R12 312 / 750ml

Delaire Graff Laurence Graff Res 2012 (Cab)
Helshoogte Pass, Banghoek, Stellenbosch
R35 175 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R5862pb

Alheit Radio Lazarus 2012 (Chenin Blanc)
WO Bottelary Hills, Stellenbosch, winery on Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
R29 313 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R4885pb

Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2012
Muscat de Frontignan, Natural Sweet
R5628 paid for 2×500ml bottles: R4221 / 750ml

Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2012 (Red Blend)
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
R14 070 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R2345pb

Vilafonté Series C 2012 (Red Blend)
WO Paarl, Stellenbosch winery
R15 243 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R2540pb

Sadie Family Pofadder 2012 (Cinsaut)
WO Riebeek Mountain, Swartland; Paardeberg winery, Swartland
R6449 paid for 3×750ml bottles: R2150pb

Sadie Family Skerpioen 2012 (White Blend)
Swartland
R4925 paid for 3×750ml bottles: R1642

Vilafonté Series M 2012 (Red Blend)
WO Paarl, Stellenbosch winery
R8794 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R1466pb

Raats Cabernet Franc 2012
WO Stellenbosch
R8208 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R1368pb

Rust en Vrede Estate 2012 (Red Blend)
Helderberg, Stellenbosch
R7622 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R1270pb

Savage Red 2012 (Red Blend)
Winery in Salt River, Cape Town
R7622 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R1270pb

Sequillo Red 2012 (Blend, Sadie Family)
Winery in Paardeberg, Swartland
R7622 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R1270pb

De Trafford Elevation ‘393’ 2012 (Red Blend)
Upper Blaauwklippen Valley, Stellenbosch
R7035 paid for or 6×750ml bottles: R1172pb

Kanonkop Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
R7035 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R1172pb

Keet First Verse 2012 (Red Blend)
WO Stellenbosch
R7035 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R1172pb

Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Res 2012
WO Stellenbosch
R7035 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R1172pb

Glenelly Lady May 2012 (Red Blend)
Ida’s Valley, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
R6449 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R1075pb

Tokara Director’s Reserve 2012 (Red Blend)
Helshoogte, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
R6449 paid for 6×750ml bottles: R1075pb