Boston auction contains 59 vintage first growth Bordeaux

Lafite and Mouton-Rothschild from 1959 are among the highlights in a Boston fine wine auction to be held early next month. The bottles are part of a sale by Skinner containing 400 lots from a range of classic French regions as well as California and Australia.

The auction will take place in Skinner’s Boston gallery at 63 Park Plaza on 4 November at 6pm.

A 10 bottle lot of Chåteau Lafite Rothschild 1959 (lot 99) is expected to fetch up to $16,000, and eight bottles of Chåteau Mouton Rothschild 1959 (lot 105) is hoped to raise US$10,000.

The 1959 vintage is considered one of the best vintages in Bordeaux from the last century.

It’s also believed two bottles of Chåteau La Mission Haut Brion 2000 (lot 126) will go under the hammer for $1,200.

The sale also offers more recently bottled Bordeaux vintages from Chåteau Latour and Pétrus.

The Rhône is also well-represented with a bottle of Domaine du Pégaü, Chåteauneuf du Pape, Cuvée da Capo 2003 and single bottles of Guigal, La Landonne 1983, Guigal, La Mouline 2003, and Guigal, La Turque 2003 among others.

The sale boasts New World wines such as two bottles of Sine Qua Non, Just for the Love of It Syrah 2002 and three and four bottle lots from Charles Smith including Old Bones Syrah 2005, The Skull Syrah 2005 and a single bottle of Chris Ringland Shiraz 1998.

In Champagne, buyers can expect seven bottles of Taittinger, Comtes de Champagne; five bottles of Veuve Clicquot, Grand Dame 1979, and 12 bottles of Heidsieck, Vintage Brut Millésime 1990.

According to Marie Keep, director of fine wine at Skinner: “The current wine market is a boon for buyers. Wines that may have been out of reach at the zenith of the market are now approachable at auction. It’s a good time to start collecting again.”

She added: “Skinner remains the only major auction house in New England to offer fine wines at auction, and the interest in these auctions reflects Boston’s love of fine wines."

Patrick Schmitt, 29.10.09