Bonhams autumn wine sale is uncorked on 15th September with one of the most interesting and eclectic auctions to have been seen in London in recent times.
Amongst the 750 lots will be found such rarities as 1815 Grande Champagne Cognac, 1834 and 1900 Malvasia Madeira, 1870 Sandeman White Port and 1892 Ai-Danil Tokay from the Massandra Collection as well as 1900 Tokaji from Hungary. Old bottles from France include such sought after examples as 1947 Musigny, Vieilles Vignes from de Vogue, 1959 La Tache and a magnum of 1955 Krug.
From California there are three vintages of Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet; 1975, 1982 and 1985 (£360-420 per dozen) as well as two bottles of the iconic Screaming Eagle 1996 (£800-900). Spain is represented by Rioja Vina Tondonia 1954 and Vega Sicilia ‘Unico’ from 1973 and 1986.
In addition to the Burgundies above, there are case lots of Echézeaux 1969 (£4200-5000) and Grands Echézeaux 1976(£2400-2800) from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Bonnes-Mares 1993 (£3000-3600) and Nuits St Georges, aux Boudots 1995 (£1800-2200) from Leroy. From the Northern Rhône come eight bottles of Hermitage, La Chapelle 1978 (£400-480 per bottle) and four dozen of the 1983 vintage(£600-700 per dozen).
The mainstay of all wine auctions remains Claret and on offer are eight bottles of La Mission Haut-Brion 1953 (£3000-3600) and eleven bottles of 1955 (£10000-14000), a dozen Mouton Rothschild 1959 (£3000-3600), four bottles of 1961 (£2000-2400), four magnums of 1966 (£1200-1400) and six magnums and a dozen bottles of 1986 (£3600-4200). From more recent vintages, there are case lots of Haut-Brion 1989 (£6000-7000), Margaux 1990 (£5000-6000), La Conseillante 1990 (£1800-2000), Cheval-Blanc 1990 (£6000-8000 per dozen) and Lafite Rothschild 1996 (£5000-6000). A particular feature is the large number of large format bottles – impériales of Grand-Puy-Lacoste and Lynch-Bages 1990 and several from the magnificent 2005 vintage.
Amongst some fine vintage Champagnes there are two dozen bottles of Krug 1979 (£2000-2600) and, for a real celebration, a methuselah of 1990 Louis Roederer Cristal (£7000-9000). The highlights in vintage port are case lots of Graham 1963 (£1000-1200), Fonseca 1970 (£780-850) and Taylor 1977 (£500-600) and 1992 (£500-600).
Whilst all these fine wines will titillate the palate, the sale is also full of plenty of good value wines from non-vintage Champagne to cru bourgeois Clarets, good value Rhônes such as Gigondas and Rasteau, and many interesting Italian and New World wines, including a balthazar (12litres or 16 bottles worth) of Trinity Hill Cabernet/Merlot from New Zealand.
Richard Harvey of Bonhams comments, “We are delighted to be able to offer such a tremendous variety of wine. For the established collectors to the amateur wine lovers this sale will offer an array of wines for every palate from across the world.”
Our remaining sales for 2009 will be held in New Bond Street on 22nd October and 3rd December.
For all enquiries please contact the Wine Department, Richard Harvey M.W., Anthony Barne M.W. and Harriet Joll, on 08700 273622
www.bonhams.com/wine