Doris Duke’s wine cellar up for sale

The wine cellar of Doris Duke, only child of tobacco baron James Duke, is to be auctioned by Christie’s in New York on December 9.

Known as the richest little girl in the world, Doris Duke inherited US$100 million aged 12 on her father’s death in 1925.

Duke’s wine collection contains four lots of three bottles of 1929 Chåteau d’Yquem, which have a pre-sale estimate of between $15,000 and $24,000.

“These lots of the legendary Chåteau d’Yquem were purchased on release for the private cellar of Doris Duke, whose wine collection was one of the greatest in North America,” said Charles Curtis MW, Christie’s head of North American wine sales.

“For collectors, it is a rare opportunity to find wine of this age that can be traced back to its release,” he added.

When Doris Duke died in October 1993, her estate was estimated to be worth $1.2 billion.

Patrick Schmitt, 03.12.2009