Collection of ‘stunning beauty’ to be sold in London

Sotheby’s is to auction a collection of fine wines in London later this month, described as “one of the most exciting collections to come to auction in years.”

The sale will take place in London on 16 November and features all the greatest names from Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundy over 690 lots that are expected to realise £1.7 million.

Serena Sutcliffe MW, honorary chairman of Sotheby’s Wine, said: “Wine collections of this stellar beauty rarely come up for sale. This collection of the most extraordinary wines ever made is a testament to the highest traditions of wine appreciation and knowledge.”

The consignment of Bordeaux spans the vintages 1938 to 2009, with a full case of 1959 Haut-Brion expected to achieve £10,000 – £14,000. In total there are 1959 wines from 12 châteaux and wines from 1961 from a total of 22 estates.

There is a particularly strong showing of the 1982 vintage, including full cases of Latour and Cheval Blanc, an imperial of Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande and a double magnum of Petrus.

Other large formats include 51 imperials and Jeroboams from five vintages, including 1961 Latour and 1978 Petrus and double magnums of 1959 Mouton Rothschild, 1961 Palmer, 1975 Petrus and 1982 Margaux, Petrus and Lafite.

For Burgundy there are full cases of 1988 Richebourg and Echézeaux from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, 1993 La Tâche and Romanée-St-Vivant.

There is an especially strong array of white Burgundy from DRC’s Montrachet vineyard, spanning the vintages 1978 to 1997 vintages, as well as various grand cru Leflaive from 1985, 1988 and 1995.

There is a collection of Hermitage La Chapelle from 1961, 1978 and 1990 to lead the Rhône parcel, which also includes 1978 Rayas and Guigal’s 1985 ‘La La’s”.

Champagne aficionados meanwhile can choose from a 1959 Krug Collection, two magnums of 1969 Krug Collection and 1990 and 1996 Salon.

Rounding off the sale is a collection of Port, madeira and Cognac which includes 12 bottles of 1945 Taylor’s and a bottle of 1916 malmsey.

The Cognacs include 27 vintages stretching back to 1858 (a Sazerac de Forge) and magnums of Croizet Bonaparte Fine Champagne from 1906 and 1914.