Bonhams is to hold its inaugural U.S. three-city Wine auction on October 16, 2010. Session 1 will be held in New York City and simulcast to San Francisco and Los Angeles, and Session 2 will be held in San Francisco and simulcast to Los Angeles and New York.
This unique auction format heralds the beginning of Bonhams New York joining the well-established Bonhams West Coast wine auction centers of San Francisco and Los Angeles – and Session 1 marks the first time that Bonhams has offered wine for sale on the East Coast.
The 820-lot sale will offer a diverse group of the world’s fine wines, including an impressive selection of private collections of Bordeaux, which dominate the New York session.
The auction begins with 51 lots from a long-time Bordeaux collector who kept his wines in an exceptional storage facility. When inspected, many of the original wooden cases had not been previously opened – and cases include a variety from the highly sought-after 1982, 1985 and 1986 vintages.
Other Bordeaux highlights from the 300-lot New York Session include 175 lots sourced from a leading Northeast collector, including 12 bottles of Château Lafite Rothschild 1985 (est. $7,250-9,000); 12 bottles of Château Lafite Rothschild 1995 (est. $7,000-9,000); 12 bottles of Château Mouton-Rothschild 1990 (est. $3,000-5,000) and one imperial of Château Margaux 1996 (est. $4,500 – 6,000). The collection also features large quantities of Château Lynch-Bages and Château Pichon-Lalande, from the leading 1990s vintages.
A key highlight of the New York Session is an original wooden case of Château Lafite Rothschild 1982. Known as one of the greatest wines of the 20th century, the case is expected to bring $30,000 – 40,000.
Following the Bordeaux offering is a more rounded and inclusive selection to be offered from the San Francisco rostrum, with fine selections of California, Burgundy, Rhone and other world-renowned wines. Highlights include a selection of Burgundy from the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti: a dozen bottles of Richebourg 1995 (est. $8,000 – 10,000); a dozen bottles of La Tâche 1995 (est. $11,000 – 14,000) and six magnums of La Tâche 1995 (est. $13,000 – 19,000), among others.
Richard Pike, Director of Wine & Spirits, says: “The Bonhams Wine Department is excited about its expansion into the important New York auction market – and the tri-city simulcast provides a fitting format to begin this growth. Supported by long-time and loyal West Coast clients, the auction will offer East Coast bidders a wide variety of exceptional Bordeaux – and offer them fine Burgundian and other French classics, along with a strong and ever-important showing from the fine wines of California.”
Auction, Session I: October 16, 1pm ET, New York, simulcast to San Francisco and Los Angeles, 10am PT
Auction, Session II: October 16, 2010, immediately following Session I, San Francisco, simulcast to New York and Los Angeles
www.bonhams.com/uswine