Landmark auctions promise the perfect lot

A vertical of Château Mouton Rothschild and 100 “100-pointers” are just two lots on offer at two special auctions taking place on both sides of the Atlantic over the coming months.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Fine Wine department, Sotheby’s is hosting a two-day auction from 22-23 September including the sale of a vertical of Mouton Rothschild, which holds every vintage from 1945 to 2003 excluding 1948.

The vertical is valued at £15,000-£20,000 and is among many lots from the first growth. Indeed, Mouton Rothschild takes up the first 140 lots, with items including cases and large format bottles.

Stand out lots include a case of Mouton 1961 for an estimate of £11,000-£15,000, 1982 for between £8,200 and £10,000, 1996 at £2,400-£3,200, an imperial of the same vintage with a high-end estimate of £2,200, a case of 2000 for £5,500-£6,800 and a case of six magnums from 2000 also with the same high estimate.

There are similarly strong showings from a variety of first and second growths and right bank stars, with many of Bordeaux’s best vintages represented.

 Across the Atlantic, a possible date for next year’s diary is the Naples Winter Wine Festival in Florida, set for January 2011.

Among the auction line-up is the so-called “Perfection Lot”, comprising 100 bottles of wine that have been given 100-points by Robert Parker or Wine Spectator.

The lot includes 1955 La Mission Haut Brion, 1989 Pétrus and 1985 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

All of the bottles have been carefully sourced to ensure their provenance. Some came directly from the estates after their owners donated them.

Some of the contributors will attend the auction next year, including Christian Moueix of Pétrus, Bill Harlan of Harlan Estate and California winemaker Paul Hobbs.

The event is similar to the auction in Napa Valley that was set up by Robert Mondavi in 1981. Both raise money for local children’s charities and the Florida Winter Wine Festival has raised US$82.5 million in the last decade.

All proceeds from the Perfection Lot will go to help underprivileged and at-risk children.

Rupert Millar, 02.09.2010