Four hundred bottles from the greatest producers in Burgundy and Bordeaux as well as from the Rhône are currently up for auction on iDealwine. This collection of mature vintages mainly from the 1980s and 1990s was built by a passionate wine enthusiast who met many legendary winemakers from this time.
400 bottles of incredible mature wines
We are delighted to be able to offer you the chance to bring the wines from this collection, bought straight from the producer or from the Place de Bordeaux in most cases, home to add to your collection. Let’s take a closer look at the lots waiting for you.
- 400 bottles, mostly in standard bottle format
- From 1947 to 2011 with the vast majority coming from the 1980s and 90s
- The greatest wines from Burgundy: Henri Jayer, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Coche-Dury, Méo-Camuzet, Roumier, Les Comtes Lafon, Raveneau
- The finest Bordeaux wines: Petrus, Lafleur, Mouton Rothschild, Lafleur Petrus, Léoville Las Cases
- The quintessence of the Rhône: Henri Bonneau, Rayas, JL Chave, the LA-LA-LA from Guigal
- The stars from the Loire (Clos Rougeard, Daguneau) and Champagne (Selosse, Salon)
- A rare collection of Cros Parantoux from Henri Jayer and then Emmanuel Rouget, notably featuring the 1989 vintage, the first vintage crafted by Emmanuel Rouget alongside Henri Jayer who truly left his mark.
- The collection had amazing traceability, and we were able to consult the invoices for the most expensive wines.
Remarkable storage and condition
The wines have been stored in a climate-controlled and highly insulated cellar, which explains the good preservation of the bottles. What’s more, the wines have never moved from there. “I have always been extremely careful about the temperature and general preservation of my wines, because with wine, a little carelessness is enough to lose everything!” the consignor told us.
Our team went to the cellar to pick up the wines that perfectly stored and transported to iDealwine in a refrigerated van. “The level of the wines, the condition of the corks and the labels compared to their age indicate absolutely perfect storage conditions in terms of both temperature and humidity,” noted our quality control expert Ludovic Gourlet, who went to pick them up. “The seller is a great enthusiast who has taken the utmost care of their wines.”
A great enthusiast who met many legendary winemakers
Most of these wines – with the exception of those from Bordeaux which are bought through the Place de Bordeaux – have been acquired directly from the properties because the seller travelled for many years throughout the regions to meet the greatest French winemakers. Between 1980 and 1995, the consignor discovered and met the greatest winemakers of the time, such as Henri Jayer.
As a young Parisian in the 1980s, the consignor participated in tastings with friends and attended oenology courses at Grains Nobles, where “at the time, all the greatest winemakers came to present their wines”. These meetings sometimes led to a bottle of wine being opened, making the seller want to visit the estate in person to discover more.
Then travelling around the regions, their numerous business trips gave them the chance to visit all French regions, never failing to stop by some winemaker and buy their wines.
The collector tells us about some of his greatest encounters: first of all, Nady Foucault (Clos Rougeard), whom they met in the 1980s. “I have amazing memories of visiting Clos Rougeard, spending four hours in their cellar, and opening some very, very old vintages. In 1992-1995 when I was there, he was opening bottles from the 1950s and 60s! Unforgettable conversations and exceptional tastings.” The producers also shared their tips on which other estates to visit.
Another memorable memory they shared with us is that of a tasting with Henri Bonneau: “It was a tasting of the different vats at Bonneau which were reserved for its 1990 special cuvée. Henri Bonneau fell ill during the 1990 vintage, he went to the hospital and when he returned, some vats had gone volatile. He then decided to turn it into a special cuvée, a wine at 16.5% ABV with some volatile acidity, but a great wine and a rather unique moment!” More broadly, this winemaker seems to have left a mark on the consignor, with whom they shared many moments, including a barbecue.
“I used to go to Burgundy a lot, to Coche-Dury, Roumier, Lafon, Raveneau, I even got to go to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and to Emmanuel Rouget, but even back then it was hard to get a foot in the door,”they told us.
Finally, when asked what guided their choices, they tells us, like many others, that their tastes have evolved over the years. “I started with wines that serve to initiate, sometimes a bit powerful, and over time, the palate becomes more refined. Today, I prefer wines that are much more refined, more elegant, and moderate in alcohol. I am leaning towards Burgundy wines for their finesse, but also those from the Loire Valley which have immensely improved and offer good digestibility.”
You will have understood by now that our consignor is an immense wine enthusiast, who has patiently constituted their collection over the years. “Today, I’m selling because I need space as I’m moving house,” they explain. “I’ve already tasted a lot of these wines and, of course, I’m keeping some, but we cannot ignore the price they’re worth today.”
