
Today, we give you exclusive access to some of the finest wines from a long-standing wine merchant’s collection… An impressive collection of bottles from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, several mature vintages of Yquem, vintage Champagnes, mature grands crus classés from the Sauternes appellation, sweet wines from the Loire, the list goes on! All the bottles in this collection were stored in perfect conditions in professional storage – what more would you expect from a collector working in the industry? And an extra bit of magic: All lots have recoverable VAT.
A wine merchant offers us exclusive access to a hand-picked selection from their prized cellar
Today, our Private Collection is an exclusive selection from the cellar of a wine merchant who is planning to open a second location. Overall, he has curated some 550 bottles for us from a highly diverse collection offering some of the world’s finest wines, including around sixty bottles of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (Romanée-Conti, Montrachet, La Tâche, Richebourg, Romanée Saint Vivant, Grand Echézeaux, and Echézeaux) and about ten bottles of mature vintages of Yquem. The collection also includes some less prestigious but nevertheless fine wines which will also delight wine enthusiasts, such as vintage Champagnes from Bollinger and Deutz, grand crus from the Burgundian estates of Rapet and Juillot, grand crus from the Médoc appellation along with mature sweet wines from Sauternes and the Loire.
Wines stored in perfect conditions in professional storage
Naturally, given the profession and passion of the owner, the wines were preserved in the highest standards, with the vast majority stored in a natural cellar, at a consistent temperature of 12°C–14°C and optimal humidity levels of around 80%. All the bottles are in pristine condition, as they were protected by a plastic film throughout the ageing process to safeguard the labels from humidity. And in case you need further reassurance, the owner points out that “you can only achieve such remarkable results in bottles of mature vintages if you ensure perfect humidity and overall excellent storage conditions”. Other bottles were stored in temperature-controlled electric cellars.
The bottles, purchased directly from the estates, had never left the shop’s cellar until being put up for sale. The owner, extremely anxious to deliver wines in perfect condition, even waited until the very last possible time to send us his bottles to avoid the August heat.
A wide-ranging selection inspired by the pursuit of finesse and indulgence
The wine merchant told us his tastes are somewhat eclectic and that he has no particular allegiance when it comes to wine, other than to consistently seek out finesse rather than power, for example. “It’s much easier for a winemaker to produce a very tannic, powerful wine than a delicate one”, he added. His selection includes some superb Burgundy wines. He also appreciates mature wines, from 20 to 25 years old, “the prime of life for fine wines when they are stored properly” as he sees it, offering a selection of fine, mature Bordeaux (2005 Château Mouton-Rothschild, 2001 Montrose, 1998 Léoville Poyferré, etc.), Châteauneufs (2004 Clos des Papes) and Bandols (2005 Pibarnon, 2001 Pradeaux). And finally, this passionate wine lover also likes to end a meal on a flavourful note and has a particular penchant for sweet wines, especially after a number of years of ageing. The collection also includes some very fine mature wines from the Sauternes (Yquem, Fargues, Guiraud, Climens, Rieussec…) and Loire regions (Huet, Domaine de Bellivière).
Asked about his fondest memories of tasting the wines in question, he mentioned a 1991 Yquem, incredible for “its voluptuousness, its complexity with aromas of jellied quince and candied orange peel, and a total absence of aromatic heaviness”, “a vintage that ages beautifully and offers tremendous complexity, ideal for discovering Yquem”, he added. He also recalled a Bollinger Grande Année and its surprising but perfect pairing with a hearty Camembert cheese: “The Brut dosage washes the rind away and reveals all the mellowness of the cheese, without taking away any of its character. I genuinely discovered a truly magical combination with this type of cheese.” To conclude on a more classic note, he spoke with emotion about Domaine Rapet’s fine Corton wines, savoured with a Bresse poulard. “They are truly exceptional wines after some twenty years ageing. Bottles from 2011 are going to be absolutely superb in the next 3–4 years, for example.” While there are undoubtedly plenty more memories to recount, what really matters now is what’s in store for those of you who will be savouring these wines soon!
Please note that as lots are being brought to auction by a professional, they all have, exceptionally, recoverable VAT (for professional buyers).