Bonhams final wine sale of 2009 will take place at 101 New Bond Street on 3rd December. As always the sale contains a wide spectrum of different wine styles at a broad range of prices.
The sale kicks off with Champagne, including three bottles of Krug, Clos du Mesnil 1979 (£4000-5000) and two methuselahs of the Millennium edition of Louis Roederer Cristal 1990 (£5000-6000 each).
Claret remains the cornerstone of most auctions and amongst the older wines are several examples of the outstanding 1945, 1955, 1959 and 1961 vintages. A number of private collections with excellent storage include 9 bottles of 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild (£9000-12000) and five vintages of Petrus – a six bottle case of the 1989 vintage estimate at £8000-10000. Younger wines include case lots of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1995 (£3200-3800), Latour 1996 (£4000-4400), Margaux 1996 and 2003 (£3200-3800). Vertical vintages from properties such as Ducru Beaucaillou, Leoville Lascases and Haut Brion are a feature of another fine private cellar from Scotland – a collection which also includes some mouth-watering mixed lots of red and white Burgundies.
Amongst the red Burgundies are seven vintages of La Tache, including a bottle of the 1947 vintage (£2400-3000) and two bottles of the rare 1985 Richebourg from Henri Jayer(£6500-7500 each)
The outstanding Hermitage La Chapelle 1978 (£360-420 per bottle) is included amongst the Rhone wines and there are a number of other vintages from this famous vineyard.
Other mixed lots are to be found at all price levels and could make some entertaining Christmas drinking. For those looking for comfort in the depths of winter there is a large collection of top Australian wines, mainly from Henschke, Kay Brothers, Two Hands and Torbreck.
There are five different shippers of 1945 vintage Port represented, surely an opportunity for a horizontal tasting? The sale finishes with a good selection of 19th century and old landed Cognac from Frapin, Harvey’s and Hine.