France’s national holiday is just around the corner, offering the perfect opportunity to enjoy a classic, prestigious bottle. From Champagne to Corsica and from Alsace to the Loire, the pride of France is in its vineyards, so take your time to peruse the catalogue – you have until the 15th and 16th July to place your bids!
Champagne
An exceptional area of French cultural heritage, there are over 150 lots from the region of Champagne in this auction. Some of the most prestigious cuvées include a 1976 Rare cuvée from Piper Heidsieck, a complex wine here sold in lots of 3 bottles. A bottle of the famous Cristal cuvée from Louis Roederer is also up for grabs, and in the especially mature 1962 vintage. If you’re looking for a slightly younger sparkling wine, why not go for a lot of 6 bottles of Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne in its 2006 vintage? This is the domain’s landmark cuvée, crafted using the finest grand cru parcels of the Côte des Blancs.
Alsace and the Jura
These are two regions you have to include in your cellar. From the Jura, Domaine Overnoy-Houillon produces some real gems, and in our catalogue, we have: an Arbois Pupillin Vieux Savagnin Ouillé in some delicious vintages, notably the 2004, as well as a Poulsard from the exceptional 2015 vintage. If you haven’t heard of the Kreydenweiss family in Alsace, now is the time to discover what they make with a 1989 Moenchberg grand cru, a wine that has gained in complexity over time. Marcel Deiss also illustrates the domain’s personal flair with the Engelgarten cuvée: beautifully pure and fresh with an affirmed minerality.
Loire Valley
Vincent Pinard, highly coveted by enthusiasts all over, is back with a Sancerre Chêne Marchand in the 2008 vintage, a favourite of ours and one of the finest in the appellation. Similarly, la Coulée de Serrant is well-represented here thanks to an exceptional Savennières Clos de la Coulée de Serrant in the 1989 vintage. If you’d rather opt for a red, Thierry Germain is likely to convince you with his 2005 Saumur-Champigny La Marginale, a superb cuvée that we’ve scored 18/20.
Burgundy
Let’s head to Burgundy, where Domaine de Lalou-Bize takes the spotlight with a 2005 Latricières-Chambertin grand cru, a magnificent bottle that’s bound to delight your palate, especially if you have the chance to open it with your nearest and dearest. For the whites, we recommend discovering the meticulous work of Arnaud Ente from Meursault. Domaine Valette is also a must-try, here with a 2005 Pouilly-Fuissé Clos Reyssié. And those of you looking for something a little more generous might like a Magnum of 2009 Clos de Bèze or a 2016 Cros Parantoux from Domaine Méo-Camuzet in the same size.
Rhône Valley
One of the Rhône’s most famous figures is, of course, Guigal, from whom we have 40 lots: Ex Voto, La Mouline, La Turque…which one is to your taste? L’Anglore is once more centre stage with a 2016 Tavel Vintage, lots of 2 bottles that are likely to see a bit of competition. Château de Fonsalette’s Côtes-du-Rhône is a wine crafted with finesse and elegance, and with a choice of vintages as broad as this, we bet you’ll find something you like.
Bordeaux
Some of the oldest vintages in this auction are from Bordeaux, notably two lots of 1933 Château d’Issan, a fine Médoc signature among the elite of the Margaux appellation. A magnificent 1982 Château Lafite is also for sale, an exceptional lot with no reserve price. And if you appreciate the many, beautiful dessert wines produced in this classic region, Château La Tour Blanche has some surprises in store in the form of their 1947 vintage.
There are plenty more superb cuvées waiting on our auction page, so have a good look around and place your bids!
