1869 Yquem to lead Bonhams sale

Four bottles of 19^th century Château d’Yquem are to lead Bonhams next fine wine sale in London next month.

Taking place on 13 July, the four bottles are expected to realise £5,000 to £6,000 apiece and have been consigned from the cellar of an “English Country House”, where they have been stored for the last 50 years.

The 1869 vintage is considered one of the great vintages of the 19^th century in Bordeaux, especially in Sauternes.

The vines flowered on 5 June after a hot April and the summer temperatures wee described as “extreme”. The harvest took place from 24 September to 22 October and while the crop was average in size the quality was regarded as extraordinary.

Bonhams international director of wine, Richard Harvey MW said: “This is a great vintage of the world’s most revered dessert wine. It has been described as perfect in its concentration and balance, and those fortunate enough to have tasted it have praised its lingering freshness and staying power nearly 150 years after it was produced.”

The Yquem is not the only 19^th century wine or spirit being sold at the auction. Also included in the sale are four bottles of 1840 Grande Fine Champagne Cognac (£500-600 a bottle) and a bottle each of 1874 Verdelho and 1875 Boal Madeira (£400-500 apiece).

Elsewhere the auction’s consignments cover more common fine wine collectibles such as red Burgundy from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (including two cases of 1972 La Tâche, a half case of the 1980 and six bottles of 1974 Romanée-Conti) and a case of Georges Roumier Morey St Denis Clos de la Bussiere 1978.

Other red Burgundies hail from domaines such as Dujac, Henri Jayer, Rousseau and de Vogüé and there is also a substantial allocation of fine white Burgundy from Coche-Dury, Leflaive, Comte Lafon, Ramonet and Roulet.

Claret lovers can focus in on cases of 1982 Mouton-Rothschild, 1988 and 1999 Le Pin and 2005 and 2006 Lafite.