ZONNEBLOEM 50-YEAR-OLD WINE ATTRACTS LIVELY BIDDING
Amongst the very oldest reds sold at the 2011 Nederburg Auction was a selection from Zonnebloem, known amongst cognoscenti and collectors for its ability to produce wines so well-structured, they can endure for decades to beat the odds against time.
The longest-matured Zonnebloem to come up for sale was a half-century old, with a case of six half-bottles of 1961 Cabernet Sauvignon fetching R5 500, equal to R2 444 per litre. “What makes the longevity of this particular case even more remarkable is the fact that wines in small, 375-ml bottles, don’t always age as successfully as those in bigger bottles,” said cellarmaster of Zonnebloem Deon Boshoff.
Other venerable Zonnebloem wines on auction were from the 1966, 1971, 1974 and 1981 vintages, and more recently from those of 1998 and 2001. Both the 1971 Cabernet Sauvignon and the 1974 Shiraz fetched R10 000 for a case of six bottles of 750 ml each, the equivalent of R2 222 a litre.
“The prices achieved provide clear evidence that the 50 year-old Zonnebloem is not an exception but that these wines all share the rare capacity to age over extended periods. At Zonnebloem we work to the principle that quality takes time but that excellence takes a little longer. Knowing that wines produced by our predecessors are held in such high esteem is an inspiration for today’s team.” Boshoff said.
DATE SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
ISSUED BY DKC (DE KOCK COMMUNICATIONS)
FOR ZONNEBLOEM WINES
QUERIES DEON BOSHOFF, ELIZE COETZEE, BONNY VAN NIEKERK, ZONNEBLOEM CELLARS (021) 809 7000
DEIDRE SAMSON, DANELLE KIETZMANN, ZONNEBLOEM MARKETING (021) 809 7000 or 078 314 3439
TESSA DE KOCK/MARLISE POTGIETER, DKC (021) 422 2690 or 082 579 2358
Kind regards
Marlise Potgieter
De Kock Communications (DKC)
Tel: +27 21 422 2690
Fax/Faks: +27 86 610 5388
Cell/Sel: +27 72 562 5307
E-mail/E-pos: marlise@dkc.co.za
