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News
18th century wine goes under the hammer in Geneva
An 18th century bottle of vin jaune was among the top lots at Christie’s Geneva sale this week.
The bottle from 1774 was sold to an online bidder for SFr. 46,000 (US$49,220), in an auction that was 95% sold by lot.
David Elswood, international head of Christie’s Wine, said that there had been “enthusiastic bidding” on a range of wines.
The top lot was a case of 1945 Mouton Rothschild, which sold well above its high estimate of SFr. 85,000 selling for SFr. 161,000 ($172,270).
Other top lots included a case of 1959 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche for SFr. 57,500 ($61,525); six magnums of 1959 Latour for SFr. 51,750 ($55,372); a case of 1945 Haut-Brion at SFr. 34,500 ($36,915) and three bottles of 1921 Yquem for SFr. 25,300 ($27,071).
The name vin jaune is technically incorrect as this was not a phrase used in the 18th century. It would have more simply been known as Arbois vin de garde and was likely part of a collection that Christie’s auctioned previously, as was noted by wine writer Wink Lorch when news of the sale was announced.
For more on the auction, the wine and the Jura in general see Lorch’s site here.