The 4,400 bottles put up for auction this week come from the cellar of a French enthusiast with eclectic taste. These top cuvées have been kept in optimal conditions, so all that remains for you to do is browse the catalogue and place some bids!
A cellar bursting with gems
This new auction is entirely dedicated to the cellar of a fine wine connoisseur who has spent twenty years putting together his collection. It was in 2001 that the first bottle was left to lay down, after a friend introduced our soon-to-be collector to the world of wine clubs. This curiosity opened the door to a path of great discovery…leading to an impressive accumulation of fine cuvées that you now have the chance to acquire for yourselves!
Mainly embracing the produce of his home country, this connoisseur has nonetheless ventured beyond the French border to craft a beautiful panorama of the world’s wine. The collection thus includes gems from Italy, Spain, and New Zealand.
Burgundian grands crus
The question we wine-lovers are always faced with: do we age the bottle a little longer, giving it the time it needs to flourish, or do we give in and enjoy it now? Luckily, this collection includes both bottles that are ready to uncork and cuvées that could use a few more years in the cellar. The most delectable of the Burgundy bunch are the 2007 and 2003 Corton-Charlemagne cuvées from Domaine Coche-Dury, and a 2001 La Tâche from Romanée-Conti. This auction is also the chance for you to adorn your cellar with such prestigious names as Clos de Tart, Clos des Lambrays, Trapet, and Méo-Camuzet.
A notable feature of this beautiful collection is a series of cuvées from the fascinating Domaine Esmonin, whose Gevrey-Chambertin premiers crus are available in every vintage from 2001 to 2017, missing only the year 2002.
A magnificent vintage that makes many an appearance is the 1990, a grandiose year for the region. Our collector’s penchant falls particularly on the appellations of Aloxe-Corton and Gevrey-Chambertin for this vintage, giving you the chance to taste some really fantastic bottles.
The Chardonnays up for bidding are just as tempting: you’ll have a hard time choosing between the Meursaults of Coche-Dury, Grivault, and Morey, the Corton-Charlemagnes from Bouchard and Rapet, and the Chablis by Dauvissat, Droin, and Chablisienne.
Top Bordeaux picks
The selection from this most classic of regions is excellent, with vintages from the 2000s as well as mature bottles dating as far back as the 1950s. Some of our top picks include a 1950 Château Petrus, a 2001 Château de Fargues, and a 1983 Château Latour. Other highlights have to be the 2009 Château La Gaffelière, a 2001 Château Haut-Brion, a 2005 Château Lynch-Bages, a 2001 Château Angélus, a 2007 Château Beychevelle, a 2005 Château Sociando Mallet, and even a 1984 Château Margaux.
Fans of dessert wine won’t be disappointed, either, for this is a cellar that has welcomed many a marvel from the likes of Château Climens, here available in its 1996 and 2007 vintages, as well as Suduiraut in 1988 and 1996. The legendary Château d’Yquem also features in a lovely series of vintages.
Scanning the horizon
The Rhône Valley, from north to south, is a gold mine for fine signatures. The Hermitage appellation is home to Jean-Louis Chave, a producer put into the spotlight here with cuvées in their 2000 and 2001 vintages. From Châteauneuf, the collection counts an impressive series of mature vintages from Château de Beaucastel and Domaine de La Janasse.
The Jura is on everybody’s lips as the up-and-coming region, and our collector clearly hasn’t let this pass them by, as you’ll find cuvées from Ganevat, Macle, and Tissot. The same goes for the Loire, represented in this cellar by Clos de la Coulée de Serrant, Alliet, Dagueneau, Clos Rougeard, Luneau-Papin, and Château de Villeneuve. Not lacking in southern sunshine, the loveliest of the Languedoc feature in the form of Gérard Bertrand, Mas Daumas Gassac, Peyre Rose, Clos Marie, Mas Jullien, and La Grange des Pères.
“Patience and curiosity are the key to building a cellar like this one, but above all you have to be passionate!”, the words of our collector, spurring you on to bid for the bottles that will elevate your cellar to new levels.
You can browse the sale here and access the full catalogue below
07/04/2021 – 11H00 : CP – Autres Vins Etrangers 1967-2014
07/04/2021 – 11H30 : CP – Autres régions 1975-2016
07/04/2021 – 12H00 : CP – Languedoc-Roussillon 1929-2018
07/04/2021 – 12H30 : CP – Burgundy 1983-2008 – White
07/04/2021 – 13H00 : CP – Burgundy 2009-2018 – White
07/04/2021 – 13H30 : CP – Burgundy 1975-2006 – Red
07/04/2021 – 14H00 : CP – Burgundy 2007-2009 – Red
07/04/2021 – 14H30 : CP – Burgundy 2010-2018 – Red
08/04/2021 – 11H30 : CP – Loire 1983-2018 – White
08/04/2021 – 12H00 : CP – Loire 1959-2018 – Red
08/04/2021 – 12H30 : CP – Rhône 1983-2007
08/04/2021 – 13H00 : CP – Rhône 2008-2018
08/04/2021 – 13H30 : CP – Bordeaux 1960-2018 – White
08/04/2021 – 14H00 : CP – Bordeaux 1950-2000 – Red
08/04/2021 – 14H30 : CP – Bordeaux 2001-2006 – Red
08/04/2021 – 15H00 : CP – Bordeaux 2007-2017 – Red