Wine Auction Spans Four Centuries

Today a wine and spirits auction transverses across four centuries when bottles of Madeira from 1792 along with Port from the Napoleonic wars, Port from the First and Second Wars, and wines from the 21^st century come up for auction in Switzerland.

The global auction house, Christie’s is offering a private collection of rare Port and Madeira dating back to the 19^th century for sale. The auction began yesterday and will conclude later today.

Mission Haut-Brion 1929

The wines auctioned yesterday were from a private Swiss cellar that had not been disturbed for years. Over 7,000 bottles were on the block, from double Magnums (3.0 L) to Imperial (6.0 L) sizes dating from 1953 to 1989. Included in this auction was a Magnum (1.5 L) of Mission Haut-Brion 1929, along with other Magnums from 1945, 1947, and 1949 vintages.

Chateau Lafite-Rothschild

Another six Magnums of Haut-Brion 1955 along with a double
Magnum of the 1959 vintage were also up for auction. Other wines include six Magnums of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild 1947 Bordeaux in the original wooden cases, expected to bring $22,000 - $33,000.

Waterloo Vintages

Other auction highlights include one of the finest private collections of Port and Madeira to ever come to auction. This includes over 100 bottles of Port from the 19^th century with several Waterloo vintages from 1808 and 1815. Auction estimates are around $5,000 for each Waterloo vintage bottle.

The Ports being offered for auction span every decade of the 19^th century. Bidding may be fierce for these bottles as rare, mature Ports are currently commanding premium prices.

1847 Chateau d'Yquem

Madeira vintages include 1792, 1805 and 1820. These are some of the rarest Madeira on the market. And a rare pre-phylloxera* 1847 vintage bottle of Chateau d’Yquem is expected to bring $44,000 - $66,000.

Phylloxera

*Phylloxera is an insect that feeds on the roots and leaves of grapevines. This results in deformed roots and fungal infections that cause the vines to die. The phylloxera outbreak began in Europe in the 1850’s and devastated vineyards across the country. It is estimated that well over two-thirds (some say nine-tenths) of all European vineyards were destroyed by phylloxera during that time.

Royal Salute Tribute of Honor

And if these offerings are not enough to whet collectors’ taste buds, a very limited number of rare decanters of whiskey are also up for auction. Only 21 decanters of Royal Salute, Tribute of Honor exist. Royal Salute whiskey was hand-bottled in flagons of fine French porcelain encrusted with over 413 black and white diamonds on the stopper, collar and sterling silver pedestal the bottle is on. The pedestal also bears a replica of the Sword of State flanked by two lions that are engraved in gold. Less than 15 liters (about 4 US gallons) of this 45-year-old whiskey were ever released and auction experts estimate the value to be  between $220,000 – $330,400 US Dollars.

1979 Petrus

Wine lots from private vendors will close the two-day auction and include a full case of Haut-Brion 1989, magnums and double magnums of Petrus 1979 and a double magnum of Latour 1983.

The auction continues today at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva and is expected to bring in close to $3 million.

~ Joy

First Public Auction to Sell UK Government's Cellar Wines

Tomorrow, for the first time, the UK will allow the public auction of some very sought after wines from the Government’s Hospitality Wine Cellar.  What originally began as the Hospitality Fund was established in 1908 in order to offer visiting dignitaries a hospitable welcome.  This quickly led to the creation a government wine cellar.

The Government Hospitality Wine Committee decides what wines will be placed in the cellar to be served at dinners to entertain visiting dignitaries and heads of state.   The committee is made up of five members, a Chairman and four Masters of Wine.  These volunteers are government officials and wine consultants.

The Wine Committee selects the wines to be purchased, based on blind tastings.  Once acquired, the committee writes tasting descriptions about each wine to aid in selecting what is appropriate for an event or dignitary. The government purchases the wines young and then holds them in the cellar until they have reached full maturity.   The cellar contains wines that are more traditional and includes French wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy.

The Wine Committee then reviews the cellared wines periodically to determine several factors including how they are ageing, the quality, estimated time before opening, and what is ready to serve now.  Some of the wines are over 70 years old and still in fine shape. The UK government’s cellar is a paradigm of professional wine cellar management.  It is located in the basement of Lancaster House, near Buckingham Palace, in London.

The government’s cellar holds almost 40,000 bottles of wines currently worth an estimated £2.95m ($4.47 million). Originally about £850,000 (over 1.2 million) was spent to purchase them. The wine committee also recommends which wines should be sold, and when. 

Tomorrow, Christie’s will auction several of the wines from the UK government’s cellar.  These wines are said to be in peak condition and ready to be consumed.  

On the list to be auctioned are six bottles of Chateau Latour  - Vintage 1961.  Tasting notes indicate that the wine has been “fully mature for 15 years, but it seems to get richer, …developing more aromatic nuances without losing any sweetness or concentration.”  It is estimated to be worth £20,000-£30,000 ($30,200 – 45,300). 

Other government lots include six bottles of 1970 Pétrus.  Notes indicate, “It is a profound Pétrus, and certainly one of the great Pétrus’ of the last half century.”   It has an estimated value of £5,000, ($7,500).  Also six bottles of Pétrus, Vintage 1978, will be auction with a value around £4,000 ($6,000).

 A case of 1986 Mouton Rothschild, last tasted in November 2005, have notes which say, “Nowhere near ready… Hopefully*(****) 2010 - ?”  Estimated value £5,000-£6,000  ($7,500 – 9,000).

And, a case of 1986 Le Pin.  Tasting notes say, “The finish is long and almost Medoc-like.” The case is expected to bring in around £10,000 ($15,100).  Total amount expected to be raised for the 54 bottles sold in six lots is around £50,000 ($75,500).

The UK Government Wine Cellar provides wine for over 200 events each year. The wines to be auctioned tomorrow have been served to “Kings, Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers throughout the decades."

The auction for the UK government’s wines will begin at 2:30 P.M. London time, Thursday, March 21st. Lots 207 – 212 come directly from the Government Hospitality Wine Cellars where they have been stored since their original purchase.  The auction will be held at Lancaster House on King Street in London.  To watch the auction in real time or to register to bid on line, visit https://www.christies.com/MyChristies/login.aspx?action=saleregistration&saleid=24147

A government review in 2010 recommended that the cellar assume full financial responsibility for the purchase of the wines, instead of relying on the taxpayers.  This is expected to be the first of many such auctions from the UK’s government cellars as they attempt to become self-funding.

~ Joy