The annual Strauss & Co 10-year auction features The Best 2016 Bordeaux, Tuscany & South Africa Wines to Buy Now and a large component from the incredible late David Brice cellar. Most wines have reached a plateau of drinking after a decade, where the acidity, tannins and oak are more integrated, giving a ‘smoother’ impression to an aged wine. Sweet, primary fruit starts making way for savoury, more tertiary aromas, which add complexity and detail.
White wines from 2016 will mostly be in the peak of their drinking, while the top whites and reds still have decades of maturity ahead.
South Africa 2016: The South African vintage was hot and dry, the first of a severe drought that almost left the Western Cape without water. The tiny and early crop produced very concentrated wines with relatively low alcohols, some of which will age extremely well. The 2016 South African vintage is generally considered one to drink earlier, however.
Bordeaux 2016: After a run of great vintages in Bordeaux from 2009, 2010 and 2015, the 2016s were released with great fanfare and another ‘best vintage ever tag’. This time however, it could be proven to be true as the wines generally possess a magical balance and purity. The dry conditions produced prodigious wines with perfect ripeness, firm acidities and remarkably low alcohols. A classic vintage that will age for many decades, and, where you can buy across the board! Great vintages deserve large format bottles and look out of the magnums of 2016s from the Medoc. These will age slower than the 750mls and provide exceptional drinking over a longer window.
Italy 2016: The Italian regions also performed extremely well in 2016 with the dry conditions. Expect pure, agile wines that can offer huge pleasure in their youth, but age well for decades.
Roland Peens, Wine Specialist at Strauss, shares his 2026 picks:
Moulin Riche, Saint-Julien Magnums 2016
The left bank of the Gironde River in Bordeaux, aka the Medoc, was exceptional in 2016, especially St Julien. Moulin Riche is the second wine of Leoville-Poyferré, and in magnum it’s a knockout wine that should be relative bargain.
Lafon-Rochet, Saint Estèphe 2016
Another top appellation in 2016 is Saint Estèphe, which tends to perform well in hotter vintages. The very classic Lafon Rochet is a structured yet pure wine that should age to 50 years.
Léoville Barton, Saint-Julien 2016
One of the wines of the vintage and close to the pinnacle of Bordeaux, and again super classical in style.
Mvemve Raats De Compostella 2016
The small vintage made for a very strict selection and one of Bruwer Raats’s finest ever MR de Compostella. Pure fruit, lower alcohol and extremely elegant which Neal Martin suggests drinking to 2038!
The drought in the Swartland produced meagre yields and the 2016 stands out for being uber-concentrated. It could turn out to be one the great Porseleinberg’s over time.
Antinori Tignanello Toscana 2016
The iconic Super Tuscan from 2016 is the highest rated ever with 98/100 points from Vinous and 99/100 from Wine Enthusiast. So silky its approachable now, but for the long haul.
One of Chianti’s top names that is now singing at a decade and will plateau for another.
Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo 2016
Regarded as the best cooperative on the planet, Produttori is quintessential Nebbiolo and drinks like a Barbaresco, offering huge value.
The timed online auction closes at 1 minute intervals from 6pm on Monday 9 March 2026
