La Tour d’Argent cellar sale smashes estimate

The sale of La Tour d’Argent’s infamous wine cellar smashed its pre-auction estimate of  €1 million, raising €1,542,767 (£1,399,088) from 18,000 bottles.

The highest grossing single sale from the two-day auction at the start of this week was a 1788 Clos du Griffier Cognac that fetched €25,000.

“This sale was an exceptional success,” commented André Terrail, president of La Tour d’Argent. “Buyers not only acquired excellent wines, but also a large part of our history and soul,” he added.

The auction was conducted by Piasa at the Salons Hoche on 7 and 8 December.

Top lots included:

• Cognac Clos du Griffier 1788: €25,000 (1 bottle)
• Vosne Romanée H. Jayer 1988: €6,320 (6 bottles)
• Vintage Port “Nacional” Noval 1963: €6,195 (3 bottles)
• Château Haut-Brion 1989: €6,070 (12 half-bottles)
• Château Lafite-Rotschild1982: €5,700 (6 half-bottles)
• Cognac Grande Fine Champagne "Réserve" Renault 1810: €5,575 (1 bottle)

The sale was instigated as part of an attempt to clear space in the restaurant’s vast 450,000-bottle cellar and raise funds for a refurbishment.

Patrick Schmitt, 10.12.2009