Rare Rioja to go on sale in London

Bottles of rare Rioja dating back to 1925 will go under the hammer in London next month at a Bonhams sale.

Castillo Ygay will be among the lots at Bonhams

The Bonhams Fine & Rare wine sale on 6 December at its New Bond Street headquarters will feature exceptionally rare Riojas dating from 1925-1982 from private European cellars.

Among the lots are Castillo Ygay 1925, Marqués de Riscal 1946, 1950, 1964 and 1982, Viña Tondonia 1961, 1964 and 1970, along with Ribera del Duero-based Vega Sicilia 1953, 1964 and 1966.

A case of Castillo Ygay Reserva Especial 1925 is estimated to sell for £3,000-3,600.

“It’s always a pleasure to offer such an exciting and varied selection of fine wines from around the world, with some remarkable European collections in this sale,” said Richard Harvey, director of Bonhams wine department.

Other highlights of the sale include 22 cases of Lebanese wine Château Musar from a private collection.

Located 15 miles north of the Lebanese capital of Beirut, despite repeated conflicts in the area, the château has produced wine every year, save for 1976 and 1984.

Italian wine is also represented in the sale with top producers from northern Italy and Tuscany, including 12 vintages of Super Tuscan Sassicaia, as well as Barolo and Barbaresco from Ceretto, Gaja and Elio Grasso.

The top lots of Sassicaia are three cases of 1997, estimated at £1,400-1,600 each.

Also going under the hammer is a case of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1988 with a £70-90,000 estimate, and Pierre Frapin Cuvée 1888 Grand Cru Cognac bottled in a crystal glass decanter with a 24 carat gold stopper.