‘Treasure trove’ of fine wine on sale in NYC

Auction house Sotheby’s is to offer a “treasure trove” of “iconic” labels worth over $2 million in New York later this month.

The sale on 25 February features almost 1,000 lots and will be the auctioneer’s first fine wine sale of 2017 in New York after an “exceptional” 2016. Overall, the sale is expected to make $2.3 – 3.3 million.

At the heart of the sale is a collection of ex-cellar Biondi-Santi Brunello di Montalcino riservas spanning the 1950s to 1970s in an auction first.

Seven 12-bottles cases have been consigned from each of the following vintages: 1955, 1964, 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971. Estimates range from US$1,200 – 1,800 a case for the 1970 to $8,000 – 11,000 for the 1955s.

In addition, a “longtime friend of Sotheby’s” has consigned a number of wines originally bought at the auctioneer’s high-profile direct-cellar sales of recent years.

They include: 12 lots of Cheval Blanc purchased in 2012 featuring several large formats; 20 lots of Krug from an ex-cellar sale in 2012; eight lots of very rare white Ornellaia purchased in 2014 and several lots acquired at the El Bulli sale in 2013.

Other notable parcels include 27 lots of Comte Liger-Belair all in original wooden cases, which also features a vertical from 2007-2011; 90 lots of top white Burgundy and over 20 of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti; all of the first growths, Super Seconds and leading Right Bank wines in various formats and across many decades; over 60 lots of famous Rhône estates and over 100 lots of California’s leading lights such as Screaming Eagle, Sine Qua Non, Colgin, Harlan, Dominus and Ridge.

One of the Californian lots is especially interesting as it is a 10 bottle case of the 1971 ‘Eisele’, a one-off wine that has never been produced again by the estate (estimate $11,000 – 15,000).

Connor Kriegel, head of auction sales, commented: “We are thrilled to begin the year by bringing to auction a compelling collection of consignments characterised by their impeccable provenance and unique breadth and depth.

“Not often, if ever, do you see parcel quantities of pristine Biondi-Santi Riservas from the 50s, 60s, and 70s, together with Burgundy treasures like the magnificent 1971 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche, in both bottles and magnums, alongside a 10-bottle lot of the truly rare and historic 1971 Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Eisele’.”