On February 8th in Chicago, Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. will have the privilege of offering the remarkable collection of the late Herbert Bridges Harris, Jr. in a single-owner wine auction at TRU Restaurant. This collection of nearly 10,000 impeccably stored bottles features an impressive assortment of the greatest and rarest Burgundy, Bordeaux and Champagne of the 20th Century, many of them in full case quantities. It may very well be one of the last intact cellars of this era and caliber.
The magic of the Harris Collection lies in its spectacular provenance, and in the epoch it represents. H.B. Harris gradually amassed his cellar over a lifetime. He was a meticulous collector, and kept detailed records and original receipts of his wine purchases. As a result, we know that the collection was accrued from established and trusted sources, including Brown Derby, Spec’s, Chicago Wine Company and Martine’s Wines, among others. Furthermore, as a buyer in the burgeoning wine market of 1970s America, Harris had the foresight and ability to acquire high-quality wines in quantity—a privilege that seems almost unbelievable in today’s market. Unlike other large collections that have been purchased from numerous auctions, retailers, and brokers, the wines that comprise the H.B. Harris Jr. Collection were purchased as futures or on initial release and remained in his sole possession since their acquisition, stored first in his highly customized home cellar and later transferred to professional storage. Entering his cellar, our team of specialists encountered a veritable time capsule of slumbering rarities that had remained untouched for 19 years – case after case of rarest Burgundy from DRC, Leroy, Ponsot, Drouhin, Comtes Lafon, Leflaive, and many more. Quantities of this kind of wine from these producers are all but impossible to attain today.
“This is perhaps one of the finest and rarest collections ever to have come on the market. We simply don’t see cellars of this caliber and provenance in the auction world today.” John Hart, Chairman.
We at HDH pride ourselves on the provenance and condition of the wines we offer, and we’re therefore thrilled to feature the Harris Collection – it serves as a testament to our own dedication to offering the best of the best, with an emphasis on provenance. With this in mind, Mr. Harris’s massive ledger detailing vendor as well as date of purchase and price, will be on display in the auction saleroom on February 8. A compilation has been prepared which lists the purchase date and vendor for nearly every lot in the auction.
The Harris Collection is a named single-owner auction for good reason. Both knowledgeable and passionate, Mr. Harris became an active part of the legendary circle of American collectors who formed amazing cellars in the 1960s and 1970s, such as Belle and Barney Rhodes, Tawfiq Khoury, Marvin Overton, and Lenoir Josey. Mr. Josey mentored Mr. Harris early on and became a very close friend. The two connected over their mutual love and respect for wine, shared tasting notes, and traded advice on buying and collecting. A large portion of Mr. Josey’s cellar was sold in late 2000, and was heralded by Michael Broadbent as one of the best single-owner collections ever sold in the US. Mr. Josey also meticulously cataloged his purchases and receipts (perhaps serving as Harris’s inspiration to do the same), and as a result, his cellar continues to be cited as an unquestionable demonstration of provenance. Wines from Josey’s sale, as with other famous sales, carry an enduring legacy and premium, and we are honored to offer the collection of one of his closest peers.
When Mr. Harris would take a bottle out of his cellar, he would record the date, time, event, and the person with whom he enjoyed it. These personal notes are both amazing and entertaining to read, and demonstrate his special reverence for the cellar. These wines come with a level of provenance beyond reproach, providing an unparalleled opportunity for consumers, enthusiasts, and investors. Cellars that were compiled with this type of diligence and care are becoming increasingly rare, and this is likely to be one of the last of its kind.
Join us in Chicago at Tru for the Auction
Saturday, February 8, 2014
9:00am start time
Visit us at www.hdhwine.com/auction-1402 for more information.
