Press Release London
For Immediate Release
London | +44 (0)20 7293 6000 | Matthew Floris | [email protected]
Matthew Weigman | [email protected]
New York | +1 212 606 7176 | Dan Abernethy | [email protected]
Hong Kong | +852 2822 8129 | Winnie Tang | [email protected]
Sotheby’s London To Sell One of the
Greatest Private Cellars of Top Bordeaux in
TwoTwo- Day Auction on 26 and 27 October 2011
A selection of the five Bordeaux First Growths
SOTHEBY’S LONDON is to offer one of the greatest private cellars of top Bordeaux to come to auction. The twoday sale on Wednesday, 26 and Thursday, 27 October 2011 comprises some 5,500 bottles, 730 magnums, 500
double magnums, 229 Jeroboams and 240 Imperials. Housed in an exquisitely designed Continental property, this
collection was amassed over two decades by a successful entrepreneur and philanthropist. Of pristine quality, each
bottle has benefited from impeccable state of the art underground storage. The 1475-lot sale is estimated to realise in
excess of £2.1 million*.
Commenting on the collection, Serena Sutcliffe, MW, Worldwide Head of Wine at Sotheby’s, said: “Sales such as this
do not occur very often, when all the necessary criteria of quality, provenance and condition all come together to create a
perfect buying opportunity. When this is combined with quantity, variety, desirable vintages and a mind-blowing range of
formats, we know that we have to bring the collection to the attention of everyone who is fascinated by fine wine, wherever
they are in the world. The owner of this collection has enjoyed many wines from his cellar but, as sometimes happens, he
has found that he has more wine than he needs. He is a perfectionist who bought en primeur from the best sources and
then stored his wines in optimum conditions – in this case, also in surroundings of architectural beauty.
It was awe-
inspiring to inspect and pack up this remarkable collection of wines, eliciting thirsty gasps as the process unfolded. As we
saw favourite wines and Holy Grail wines, virtually all in original wooden cases, it was obvious that this was something
special.”
The collection features one of the most comprehensive collections of First Growth Bordeaux Sotheby’s has ever
offered at auction, with vintages from 1955 to 2004. Every subjective preference is satisfied with this span of years. The
selection of large format bottles will entice collectors with the extra-youthful taste of the wines and their ability to age
in superb style. As Serena Sutcliffe has noticed in her 20-year old tenure at Sotheby’s and far longer experience in the
wine trade, these bottles particularly appeal to big personalities who love the sheer grandeur of putting large formats
on the table when entertaining family and friends. If ever a wine collection were a reflection of the individuality and
personality of its owner, this is it, with its link to a love of fine food and memorable dining experiences.
Together with the proliferation of the First Growths, there is a wonderful collection of top Bordeaux châteaux that are
‘snapping at the heels’ of the Premiers Crus in terms of quality and consistency, often with a built-in advantage of great
value. These include Angélus, Montrose, Palmer, Cos d’Estournel, Ducru Beaucaillou, Duhart Milon, Gruaud Larose,
Lynch Bages, Pavie and Talbot. There is also a magnificent line-up of Les Forts de Latour, a wine that has its own
special position in the pantheon of great Claret.
Highlights of the sale:
Château Lafite 1986 is available by the case (est. £14,000-17,000 per lot [lot
14]), jeroboam (est. £6,500-7,000 per lot [lot 16]) and imperial (est. £9,20011,000 per lot [lot 17]).
Château Latour 1996: Three dozen bottles are estimated at £6,200-7,000 per
lot of 12 bottles (lots 172-174) and these will be offered alongside four double
magnums (est. £2,000-2,600 per lot [lots 175-178]), two jeroboams (est.
£3,000-3,600 per lot [lot 179-180]) and two imperials (est. £4,000-5,000 per
lot [lots 181-182]).
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Château Margaux: The sale will present a tempting range of formats and vintages:
two cases of Margaux 1986 are estimated at £3,600-4,200 per lot (lots 318-319), a
jeroboam at £1,800-2,400 (lot 320) and an imperial at £2,400-2,800 (lot 321). For
collectors of the 2003 vintage, there are four cases of six bottles (est. £2,200-2,600
per lot [lots 415-418]), six magnums (£4,400-5,000 per lot [lot 419]), three double
magnums (est. £1,400-1,700 per lot [lots 420-422]), two jeroboams (est. £2,2002,600 per lot [lots 423-424]) and two imperials (est. £2,800-3,600 per lot [lot 425426]). “A huge mouthful of stunning, healthy fruit with the complete, perfect balance of
tannin and acidity.” (SS)
Château Haut Brion 1995: includes three cases estimated at £2,800-3,400 per 12 bottles (lots
454-456), four double magnums estimated at £920-1,300 per lot (lots 457-460), two
jeroboams estimated at £1,400-1,700 per lot (lots 461-462) and two imperials estimated at
£1,900-2,400 per lot (lots 463-464).
Château Mouton Rothschild: Various formats of the 1995 vintage include three cases
(est. £3,000-3,600 per 12 bottles [lots 598-600]), four double magnums (est. £1,0001,200 per lot [lots 601-604]), two jeroboams (est. £1,500-1,800 per lot [lots 605-606])
and two imperials (est. £2,000-2,400 per lot [lots 607-608]).
Château Cheval Blanc. Collectors will be spoilt for choice with the various formats of the 1998
vintage, with two cases estimated at £3,600-4,400 per 12 bottles (lots 1303-1304), three double
magnums estimated at £1,200-1,500 per lot (lots 1305-1307), one jeroboam estimated at £1,8002,400 (lot 1308) and one imperial estimated at £2,400-2,800 (lot 1309). In 2011, this vintage
stands out as the classiest wine in the decade.
A large selection of Second Growths will feature Gruaud Larose, Pichon Longueville Baron,
Ducru Beaucaillou and Cos d’Estournel to name a few.
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The stunning Continental property of the wine connoisseur
* Pre-sale estimates do not include buyer’s premium
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Notes to Editors
Sotheby’s Wine auctions in 2010 brought an overall global total of US$88,270,602; this is more than double the 2009
figure and the highest in the company’s forty years of wine auctions.
The Lafite Ex Cellars sale held by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong in October 2010 set a new record for a single standard
sized bottle at auction when a bottle of Château Lafite 1869 sold for $232,692. This means that Sotheby’s now holds
the world records for a standard bottle, a bottle in any format - the Jeroboam of Château Mouton Rothschild
1945 which fetched $310,700 in February 2007 in New York – and any wine lot at auction – 50 cases of Château
Mouton Rothschild 1982 which sold for US$1,051,600 at Sotheby’s New York in 2006.
Sotheby’s Hong Kong has maintained 15 consecutive 100%-sold wine auctions in Asia since 2009 – the only major
auction house with this record.
Upcoming wine sales at Sotheby’s in London will take place on 9 November 2011 and 7 December 2011.
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