AN OUTSTANDING PRIVATE COLLECTION FROM A EUROPEAN COLLECTOR
LOTS 108 to 300
Every great wine cellar has its own particular virtues and eccentricities. This extraordinary cellar was marked first and foremost by its range and then by a profusion of bottles that could fairly be described as the great European wines of the last century. This was no show cellar; this was the cellar of the earnest connoisseur, no sparkling tasting tables or smart lighting, just endless bottles of great wine kept in perfect conditions. Wine flanked us on every side, loose bottles lining the racks and case after case along the walls - a joy to behold.
Let us look first at that aforementioned range and begin in Burgundy with the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. At the back of the cellar in a dusty section of racking stood a reserve of mixed DRC bottles that would appeal to the heart of any lover of old Burgundy. La Tâche was a favorite of the collector: 1959, 1964, 1966, 1969, and 1971 all feature as single bottles or multiples thereof. Romanée-Conti itself - rarest of rarefied wines features too, initially as single bottles from 1982 and 1983 and then, more interestingly perhaps, alongside five bottle of La Tâche and various other DRC wines as part of a handmade assortment of the outstanding 1985 vintage. Thankfully assortments don't begin and end there. We have a full original carton of the 1976 assortment and an unopened wooden case of the great 1978 - rare treats for a discerning Burgundy enthusiast.
The greatest wines of Bordeaux feature here in abundance; full, previously unopened cases of wine from first growths in stellar vintages are perhaps most noteworthy. Wine from: Cheval-Blanc, Margaux, Pétrus and Lafite-Rothschild feature in quantity, including rare cases of half-bottles of Lafite and Margaux from the 1982 vintage. For those enamoured by old claret there is an astounding cache of single bottles and carefully-constructed mixed lots: A perfectly-preserved magnum of Cheval Blanc 1947, Latour 1928, Montrose 1923, Lafite-Rothschild 1947 or Léoville-Las-Cases 1945.
A collection of rare Italian wine is always a joy to unearth and the bottles here are examples of some of the finest Italian wine-making of the latter half of the 20th century in bottles and magnums. The inimitable wines of Angelo Gaja were a favourite of the consigner. All of the single-vineyard wines feature including a superb mixed case of Barbaresco Costa Russi and Sori San Lorenzo 1985 in magnum. From Piedmont we also have some rare magnums of Aldo Conterno's Barolo GranBussia and Barolo Serralunga d'Alba from Giacosa. With Sassiciaia and Ornellaia from a range of top vintages flying the Tuscan flag, we are delighted to be able to offer such a fascinating collection.
Château Montrose--Vintage 1923
Recent release. Slightly bin-soiled and torn label. Level base of neck(1)
Château Latour--Vintage 1928
Slightly bin-soiled label. Level top-shoulder(1)
Château Lafite-Rothschild--1945
Corroded capsule. Bin-soiled and very slightly damaged label. Level top-shoulder(1)
Château Margaux--Vintage 1945
Slightly corroded capsule. Bin-soiled label. Level upper-shoulder(1)
Château Léoville-Las-Cases--Vintage 1945
Bordeaux-bottled by Sichel. Bin-soiled label. Level top-shoulder(1)
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou--Vintage 1945
Slightly corroded capsule. Bin-soiled and slightly damaged label. Level mid-shoulder(1)
Château Lafite-Rothschild--1947
Reconditioned at the Château in 1983. Bin-soiled and damaged label. Level base of neck(1)
Château Cheval-Blanc--Vintage 1949
Slightly bin-soiled labels. Levels top-shoulder(4)
Château Margaux--Vintage 1953
Cruse slip label. Slightly bin-soiled label. Level base of neck (1)
Above 12 bottles per lot
Details
Recently removed from a private, temperature and humidity controlled cellar in Germany. Inspected and packed by Christie's staff
Now lying in Weybridge, Surrey (EHD)
Château Montrose--Vintage 1923
Recent release. Slightly bin-soiled and torn label. Level base of neck(1)
Château Latour--Vintage 1928
Slightly bin-soiled label. Level top-shoulder(1)
Château Lafite-Rothschild--1945
Corroded capsule. Bin-soiled and very slightly damaged label. Level top-shoulder(1)
Château Margaux--Vintage 1945
Slightly corroded capsule. Bin-soiled label. Level upper-shoulder(1)
Château Léoville-Las-Cases--Vintage 1945
Bordeaux-bottled by Sichel. Bin-soiled label. Level top-shoulder(1)
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou--Vintage 1945
Slightly corroded capsule. Bin-soiled and slightly damaged label. Level mid-shoulder(1)
Château Lafite-Rothschild--1947
Reconditioned at the Château in 1983. Bin-soiled and damaged label. Level base of neck(1)
Château Cheval-Blanc--Vintage 1949
Slightly bin-soiled labels. Levels top-shoulder(4)
Château Margaux--Vintage 1953
Cruse slip label. Slightly bin-soiled label. Level base of neck (1)
Above 12 bottles per lot
Now lying in Weybridge, Surrey (EHD)
Château Montrose--Vintage 1923
Recent release. Slightly bin-soiled and torn label. Level base of neck(1)
Château Latour--Vintage 1928
Slightly bin-soiled label. Level top-shoulder(1)
Château Lafite-Rothschild--1945
Corroded capsule. Bin-soiled and very slightly damaged label. Level top-shoulder(1)
Château Margaux--Vintage 1945
Slightly corroded capsule. Bin-soiled label. Level upper-shoulder(1)
Château Léoville-Las-Cases--Vintage 1945
Bordeaux-bottled by Sichel. Bin-soiled label. Level top-shoulder(1)
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou--Vintage 1945
Slightly corroded capsule. Bin-soiled and slightly damaged label. Level mid-shoulder(1)
Château Lafite-Rothschild--1947
Reconditioned at the Château in 1983. Bin-soiled and damaged label. Level base of neck(1)
Château Cheval-Blanc--Vintage 1949
Slightly bin-soiled labels. Levels top-shoulder(4)
Château Margaux--Vintage 1953
Cruse slip label. Slightly bin-soiled label. Level base of neck (1)
Above 12 bottles per lot
Brought to you by
Antonia Essex