Unusual imports under the hammer at 34th Nederburg Charity Auction

A longstanding donor to this community cause, the Nederburg Auction has raised close on R1,9 million towards the Hospice Development Fund over the past 15 years, as well as R260,000 for the M2M initiative since 2003. The 34th charity sale offers some unusual wine items - many collector's items - linked to gourmet dining excursions.

First growths

Two impressive imports are on offer. One is a 1980 magnum of Château Lafite Rothschild; the famed first of the First Growths of Bordeaux that dates back to 1234, situated in the great wine-producing village of Pauillac in the Médoc region. This flagship Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend, which includes Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, shows a dark ruby colour and aromas of ripe black currants, almonds, violets and vanilla spice.

In honour

Then, to honour the legacy of the legendary Californian, Robert Mondavi, who died earlier this year, a 750ml bottle of Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon 1978 will be on offer. The wine very much highlights his association with Nederburg. Not only was he a former keynote speaker at Nederburg, but the Robert Mondavi International Winemaker of the Year trophy was twice awarded to former Nederburg winemaker, Günter Brozel, on the International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Brandy bidding

Two very special brandy items will also come under the hammer of auctioneer Stephan Welz. The only bottle ever made from a blend of Van Ryn's brandies all older than 30 years is bound to attract considerable attention, given that the Van Ryn's Collection Reserve 20-year-old took this year's trophy for the Worldwide Best Brandy on the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Brandy master, Johan Venter, who has produced this unique bottle, is also hosting a brandy blending experience for six people. Each participant will get to take home with them a bottle of the customised blend created on the day.

More on the block

Other stellar Charity Auction wines include several stand-out local Bordeaux blends. Biggest of all is the nine-litre bottle of Simonsig's flagship, Tiara. There's also a five-litre bottle of Groot Constantia's Gouverneur's Reserve 2005 and a three-litre jeroboam of Mulderbosch Faithful Hound 2004.

Nederburg is offering a 50-litre cask of its Ingenuity red blend from the 2007 vintage. Made from a combination of Sangiovese, Barbera and Nebbiolo, this is a bold and complex wine, structured to age over many years.

Nederburg has also donated its 2003 Amateur red blend, created five years ago by wine journalists expressly for the Nederburg Charity Trust. Working with wines produced by Nederburg, they made up a range of blends with the most popular combination selected for the initiative.

Additional donations

Several producers have donated some interesting collections. De Krans has offered a set of eight award-winning Vintage Reserve Ports from 1994, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, while Kleine Zalze has assembled a six-bottle collection (two bottles each) of International Wine & Spirit Competition-honoured wines - the Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc Barrel Fermented 2005, winner of the trophy for Best Chenin Blanc; the Family Reserve Shiraz 2004, a gold medalist; and the Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, a gold medallist that also scored the best in its class.

There is also a six-bottle case of Kanonkop Paul Sauer 1991, which won the Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande trophy for the best blended red wine on the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Glen Carlou is offering three bottles each of its top wines - the Syrah 2004, judged Platter's Wine of the Year in 2006, and the five-star Edgebaston "GS" Cabernet Sauvignon.

Also on offer is a celebration of Sauvignon Blanc at Diemersdal that will entitle the successful bidder and three guests to a Sauvignon Blanc and seafood day with the Louw family at their Durbanville estate.

Zonnebloem has donated two magnums of Cabernet Sauvignon, attractively packed in a special case, from 1978 and 1979 vintages.

Last year, charity auction bidders contributed a total of R386,500 - hopefully this amount can be topped at this year's sale.