A century of La Mission for sale

The line-up of the La Mission Haut-Brion ex-cellar sale being held in New York this October has been announced.

The sale was announced earlier this year and will be held by Sotheby’s on 19 October. It will feature 270 lots spanning 1916-2012, including the estate’s white wine from 1961 onwards, and is expected to realise in excess of US$1 million.

At the heart of the sale are a number of large formats: over 200 magnums, 31 double magnums, four Jeroboams, 17 imperials and six Salmanazars signed by Prince Robert of Luxembourg and winemaker Jean-Philippe Delmas.

There are also vertical collections including: a 12-bottle vertical covering 100-point wines from 1955-2010 ($18,000 – $28,000); a 32-bottle vertical spanning 1931-1981 ($14,000 – $20,000) and a magnum vertical of 26 magnums covering 1982-2012 ($20,000 – $30,000).

A special charity lot will offer dinner at Domaine Dillon’s Paris residence Le Clarence’, as well as a private tour of La Mission and lunch at the estate for six people. Proceeds will benefit the charity ‘Getting Out and Staying Out’, which aims to prevent young men ending up in the cycle of the New York penitentiary system.

Key lots of La Mission include a bottle of the 1916 for $1,400 – $1,800; bottles of the 1945 and 1959; three bottles of the 1961 ($12,000 – $16,000); and cases and large formats of the 1982, 1989, 1990, 1995, 2000 and 2005 and 2010 vintages among others.

The most standout lots of La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc include a bottle of the 1961 for $1,200 – $1,800; half cases of the 1982 and 1989 and an imperial of the 2010.

As Sotheby’s worldwide head of wine, Jamie Ritchie, noted, this sale continues the auctioneers run of prestigious and successful ex-cellar sales, having so far done the same for Margaux, Mouton Rothschild and Haut-Brion

Serena Sutcliffe MW honorary chairman, Sotheby’s Wine, said: “It is a real privilege for us to bring to auction a century of vintages direct from Château La Mission Haut-Brion, an undisputed star of Bordeaux’s greatest growths.

“The dramatic impact of this extraordinary wine is underscored by sheer, majestic class, allied to glorious flavour that imprints itself on the palate. It would be difficult to find a wine with more character and exciting density and it is a revelation to watch it evolve from powerful youth to imposing maturity. This sale will enable La Mission’s many devotees to do just that.”

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