Bonhams & Butterfields presents its first Wine Auction of 2011 on Saturday, February 26th in San Francisco, simulcast to Los Angeles. The sale, consisting of numerous fine and rare wines, will feature several collections of important burgundy that include strong offerings of vertical vintages. The auction also includes several highly sought after California Cult wines.
Laura King Pfaff, Chairman, Bonhams & Butterfields, said: “The firm is pleased to present the inaugural wine auction of 2011. The sale will offer bidders a wide variety of exceptional Burgundy as well as important Bordeaux and other French classics, along with a strong and ever-important showing of spectacular wines from California.”
Highlights from the February sale include a twelve bottle selection of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, 1982 (est. $11,000-15,000); an eleven bottle Domaine de la Romanée-Conti assortment, 1990, of Echézeaux, Grands-Échézeaux, La Tâche, Richebourg, and Romanée-St-Vivant (est. $16,000-22,000); a Domaine de la Romanée-Conti assortment case, 1991, featuring Echézeaux, Grands-Échézeaux, La Tâche, Richebourg, Romanée-St-Vivant, and Romanée-Conti (est. $12,000-16,000); a dozen bottles of Château Lafite Rothschild in original wood case, 1995 (est. $8,000-11,000); a case of Dujac Clos de la Roche, 1993 (est. $6,000-8,000); six bottles of Château Lafite Rothschild, 1988 (est. $4,800-6,000); two bottles of Château Lafite Rothschild, 1981 (est. $1,200-1,600) and six bottles of Sassicaia, 1985 (est. $6,000-8,000).
The firm is extremely delighted to offer the remarkable lifetime collection of a Pacific Palisades Gentleman. The cellar features a broad range of first growth Bordeaux, Burgundy and California Cult wines from the 1970s to 1990s. Stored in a private temperature and humidity controlled cellar in wooden racks, the offering includes extensive verticals and a broad range of Cult California wines from Caymus, Château Montelena, Far Niente, Freemark Abbey, Heitz Cellars, Opus One, Robert Mondavi, Silver Oaks and Stag’s Leap, among others.
Important wines featured in the sale also include a collection of 350 lots including extensive verticals of Burgundies, Rhônes, and California vintages from the remarkable collection of a Bay Area gentleman. The wines have been professionally stored under optimal conditions. Noteworthy Burgundy vertical lots include a twenty bottle, five-year vertical (2002-2006) of Chablis, Les Clos, W. Fevre (est. $1,100-$1,500); a seven bottle, four-year vertical (2003-2006) of Chablis, Valmur, Raveneau (est. $900-$1,100) and a ten bottle, five-year (1996-2001) of Bonnes Mares, Comte de Vogue (est. $2,200-$2,700). In addition, various Rhônes including Hermitage and Ermitage, Cuvee Cathelin from J.L. Chave are on offer.
Screaming Eagle wines will be prominently featured within the February sale. Highlights from an important Napa Valley Cellar include two highly sought after 100-point Robert Parker vintages: a three-bottle offering from 1997 (est. $7,000-8,000 each) and a three-bottle offering of 2007 (est. $7,000-8,000 each). Both of these extraordinary lots are presented in original wooden cases and have been stored in a perfect temperature and humidity-controlled environment. In addition, a consignment from a San Francisco gentleman of note includes multiple bottle offerings of three consecutive years from 2004-2006 in original wood cases.
As well, a wide range of Harlan Estate Wines will be presented during the winter sale. Wines of note include one magnum Cabernet Sauvignon, 1996 (est. $1,000-1,300), three bottles of Cabernet Sauvignon, 1998 (est. $800-1,100), three bottles of The Maiden, 1997 (est. $500-650), and three bottles of The Maiden, 2004 (est. $350-450), among others.
A collection of Malibu Vineyards wines from the personal library of winemaker, Jim Palmer, will also be featured during the auction. Prized wines on offer include a vertical selection of Malibu Vineyards Meritage from 2006, 2007, and 2008 (est. $350-450), the latter having received the “Best of Class Award, Bordeaux Blend” in the 2011 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.
The illustrated auction catalog for the Wine Auction is available online for review and purchase at www.bonhams.com/19119
Auction: February 26, San Francisco, simulcast to Los Angeles
www.bonhams.com/uswine
