Rare back vintages of Napa icons up for sale

UK bidders are expected to feature prominently in the Napa Valley Library Wine Auction, run by Zachys, which kicks off today and runs until 20 February.

With lockdown driving increased demand for high-end wines of impeccable provenance and quality, the rare lots coming direct from the library cellars of some of Napa’s greatest estate are piquing the interest of UK private client buyers.

The Napa Valley Vintners has brought together an impressive collection of nearly 100 exclusive library lots for its inaugural Direct from the Cellar: Napa Valley Library Wine Auction.

The lots offer a diverse array of wines, from classic examples of Napa Valley Cabernet from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s, through to one of the rarest offerings of library formats ever offered from Opus One – 5 Decades of Opus One, a collection of 6-litre imperials from standout vintages across five decades.

Chateau Montelena goes back to the ‘90s with three 5 litre bottles from 1993, 1994 and 1995, while Shafer offers 15 magnums from 200 -2014, and Promontory offers 6 magnums from 2009 to 2014.

The auction starts today and runs until 20 February. To view the auction lots and register to bid, click here.