From the heart of the UK’s bustling capital, we have a collection of bottles that have been kept in an extraordinary cellar. 95% of these were sourced directly from their domains, and there are jewels from across the world.
“Hello?”, our seller picks up the phone, his accent revealing a location that could only be from the other side of the Channel. He’s the owner if 3,700 incredible bottles that are now up for auction on our website. This former restaurant-owner explains: “I got hold of this restaurant in 1977, an establishment that has held the same address since the 19th century. At the time, I had the chance to take over both the property and its cellar, the latter of which was bursting with mature, prestigious wines, the oldest of which being some Tokay cuvées. Our family has decided to let the restaurant go, which is why I’m seeking a new home for the wine collection. I’ve already sold most of my Bordeaux, though there are a few left. You’ll see how this collection takes you on a world tour through what the best of the planet’s vineyards have to offer!” The cellar itself is in central London and covers two floors. The first is temperature-controlled, and the second is below ground, so is naturally cool and stable.
“In terms of where the bottles come from, so buyers can be reassured, 95% of the wines in this cellar were acquired directly from their producers. So, there’s been no coming and going that might deteriorate the condition of the bottles. And I can vouch for the provenance of the remaining 5%, as they come from historic London merchants. Simply buying the most expensive wine has never really interested me; rather, I’ve always tried to seek out producers I thought to be the best, sometimes vintners largely unknown to the greater public but who are real craftsmen in the wine world. I consider myself lucky to have lived my exciting wine adventure during a real golden age. Some years ago, to get a bottle of Chave or Rayas, you just had to knock on the door of the domain, taste, and choose (with no obligation to buy any that weren’t so interesting). Today, I know that price is a big question when choosing a wine, but back then I picked my bottles solely for their quality and their capacity to bring a moment of joy to my clients.
I’m passionate about wine-making regions all across the globe. In the collection, you’ll find gems from France, but I also recommend taking a look at the cuvées from Germany, Spain, Argentina, and Chile…as well as Austria and Lebanon. It’s a delicious trip around the world! I’ve always said that there are people from every part of the world who strive for excellence, and I’ve spent a good part of my life seeking them out and trying what they craft!
I recently opened some really mature champagnes that I’d been stocking in the cellar. The 1947 Château Latour has really stuck in my mind as one of my finest tasting moments: a remarkable wine for its liveliness and surprisingly young expression, a real gem of finesse and elegance. I’ve also tried some mature Tokay on a few occasions (though luckily I’ve left some for you!), and this is something that every wine lover should get to experience at least once in their lifetime. Some of the dreamiest bottles I’m letting go include magnums of 1984 Hermitage from Jean-Louis Chave, an incredible magnum of 1978 Echezeaux grand cru made by Henri Jayer, and a 1929 Château Latour made from grapes harvested just weeks before the crash that caused the Great Depression.” If you’re interested in other exceptional vintages, we recommend you take a look at these Tokay cuvées from 1866 and 1889. There’s also a bottle produced at the end of the Second World War, the Chambertin grand cru from Louis Latour. From 1989, there’s the magnificent Château Suduiraut in two-bottle lots, as well as Pinot Gris Sélection de grains nobles from Domaine Léon Beyer if you’re a fan of dessert wine. Also in the 1989 vintage is a Richebourg from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and the Hill of Grace cuvée from Australian domain Henschke. The 1990 vintage is represented by a sweet Vouvray Clos du Bourg from Huet, a Chablis grand cru Blanchot from Domaine Raveneau, Cristal by Roederer, and Italian bottles like the Torcolato made by Maculan. Another notably stunning year for wine was 2010, and there are almost 80 lots up for auction in this vintage: Chambertin Clos de Bèze by Domaine Bruno Clair, Latricières-Chambertin by David Duband, Vin de France Le Jardin by Henri Milan, and Brunello di Montalcino from Le Ragnaie.
See the full selection here – happy bidding!
Interested in selling your wine with us? Find out more here
Full auction catalogue:
07/01/2021 – 10H00 : CP – Espagne Portugal 1908-2018
07/01/2021 – 10H30 : CP – USA 1970-2016
07/01/2021 – 11H00 : CP – Australie Nlle Zélande 1986-2019
07/01/2021 – 11H30 : CP – Allemagne Autriche 1921-2017
07/01/2021 – 12H00 : CP – Italie 1961-2016
07/01/2021 – 12H30 : CP – Autres vins Etranger 1866-2016
07/01/2021 – 13H00 : CP – Misc. French Wines 1976-2017
07/01/2021 – 13H30 : CP – Rhône 1949-2016
07/01/2021 – 14H00 : CP – Loire 1921-2018
07/01/2021 – 14H30 : CP – Champagne 1982-2013
07/01/2021 – 15H00 : CP – Bordeaux 1928-2018
07/01/2021 – 16H00 : CP – Burgundy 1972-2017 – Red
07/01/2021 – 16H30 : CP – Burgundy 1969-2017 – White
