Complete case of 1988 DRC to be auctioned

The 12 bottles, from a private French collector, are expected to fetch £35,000-£40,000 at Bonhams’ Fine and Rare Wines auction on 25 March in London.

It is now very rare to find a complete case of a dozen bottles of Domaine Romanée-Conti and the box was still sealed with its metal band until opened for inspection by Bonhams.

Richard Harvey, head of department at the auctioneers, commented, “We are very excited to offer this rare, pristine case of Romanée-Conti 1988, which will now have reached its peak for drinking, amongst so many other exciting wines in this sale.”

Also to be included in the auction are 1989 Domaine Romanée-Conti, magnums of La Tâche from another continental cellar and a case of Grands Echézeaux 1991 (£4,000-£5,000) from a cellar in Scotland.

Other highlights include magnums of Château Latour 1964 (£3,000-£3,600 per six), a dozen magnums of Château Pétrus 1975 (£10,000-£12,000) and six bottles of Pétrus 1990 (asking price as per 1975). 

There are also several large format bottles such as, jeroboams of Château Mouton-Rothschild 1985 (£1,300-£1,500) and 1989 (£1,000-£1,200), nebuchadnezzars – 15 litres – of Château Troplong Mondot 1998 (£900-£1,100) and Louis Jadot’s Chevalier Montrachet, Les Demoiselles 2000 (£1,500-£2,000).

Highlights among the Champagne lots include a bottle of Pol Roger Cuvée de Reserve 1947 (£500-700).

For further details of the lots and prices visit www.bonhams.com

Rupert Millar, 11.03.10