Strauss & co - 10 - 11 May 2020, Cape Town

22 Morgenster Estate In 1992, the Late Giulio Bertrand retired to South Africa from Italy and bought the historic Morgenster farm on the slopes of the Schaapenberg, which dates back to 1711. Specialising in long-ageing Bordeaux-style reds, the director of Cheval Blanc, Pierre Luton, was hired as the consultant. 12 and 13 Morgenster Estate 2000 (6 bottle lot) The debut vintage of the property’s flagship blend, now well established among the Cape’s finest Bordeaux- styled expressions. ‘Cabernet Franc takes lead (51%) in the blend with Cab S. 16 months French oak, 80% new; 14% alc. Winemaker Marius Lategan says the hand of consultant master blender Pierre Lurton is written all over the wine.’ – Platter SA Wine Guide 2004, 4 stars. ‘The superbly poised and elegant 2000 Morgenster has aged beautifully. Much like a right-bank Bordeaux, it offers fine red fruits, florals and meaty complexity. Tasted alongside the 100 point Cheval Blanc 1998, it was the better wine on the night!‘ – Roland Peens, 96 points June 2019 R10 000 - 12 000 43 and 44 Morgenster Estate 2004 (6 x 1500ml bottle lot) ‘Aristocratic Old-World-style flagship. 2004 Merlot driven (69%) with Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc (17/14). Perfumed, plush, persistent; tapered tannins contributing to fine, noble structure, seemingly endless finish.’ – Platter SA Wine Guide 2008, 4.5 stars R12 000 - 15 000 58 Haut-Brion Pessac-Leognan 1989 (3 bottle lot) Chateau Haut-Brion is one of the First Growths of Bordeaux and its unique terroir has produced prized wines for close to 600 years. After a visit on May 25, 1787, Thomas Jefferson wrote in his diary: “The soil of Haut- Brion, which I examined in great detail, is made up of sand, in which there is near as much round gravel or small stones and very little loam like the soils of the Medoc.”The 1989 Haut-Brion is widely regarded as one of the greatest Bordeaux wines ever produced. Sourced from one of South Africa’s greatest private cellars, these bottles are in perfect condition. The 1989 Haut-Brion commenced one of the most spectacular dinners that I ever attended, this representing one of the best bottles of a dozen tasted over the years. Deep in color with thin bricking on the rim, the haunting bouquet has heart-rending delineation – as profound as it has ever been. Scents of black olives intermingle with graphite, clove and cherry liqueur, underneath subtle gravel scents becoming more vocal with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied and maybe not as powerful as it was a few years ago. Yet it is ineffably complex with layers of pure dark berry fruit, black olive, cloves and crushed violets. This particular example was one of the most youthful that I have encountered. The finish is so effortless and yet it changes constantly in the glass, revealing new facets, some attendees noticing a touch of greenness after 30 minutes although I could not detect that myself. It is an awe-inspiring Haut-Brion that is only just beginning to demonstrate the ethereal heights it can achieve. – Neal Martin Vinous.com 100/100 (2018) R50 000 - 55 000 59 Palmer Margaux 2000 (1 x 1500ml bottle lot) A glorious vintage by one of Bordeaux’s greatest chateaux ‘Tasted at the Château Palmer vertical in London, the 2000 Château Palmer was closed for a number of years, but it appears to be finally opening. Deep in colour, there remains a slight broodiness on the nose, although it loses its inhibitions and develops potent blackberry, strawberry and mint aromas, perhaps just a smudge of camphor. It is unashamedly rich on the entry: intense and vibrant with layers of black cherry and cassis fruit pierced by a fine line of acidity. This millennial tightens everything up towards the finish whereupon it reverts to something much more classic in style, long and tensile. It does not quite occupy the same class as the 2005 or the imperial 2010, but it certainly has long-term potential. My advice? Give it another 4-5 years in the cellar.‘ – Neal Martin, 94 points, eRobertParker.com May 2015 R16 000 - 18 000