S otheby’s Wine is honored to present A Legacy in Wine | The Family Cellar of Jannine and Robert MacDonnell, an extraordinary collection reflecting a lifetime of thoughtful collecting, generosity, and a shared appreciation for the art of wine. Built over decades with a discerning eye for quality, the cellar brings together remarkable depth across Italy, Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhône valley, with many of its greatest wines represented in exceptional case quantities. Highlights include a remarkable Masseto vertical spanning 1988 through 2002, Sassicaia 1985 in magnum, complete wooden cases of Château Mouton Rothschild 1982, Château Rayas 1990, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg 1999, and Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny 1990 in magnum. Together, these wines offer a fitting testament to Jannine and Robert MacDonnell’s discerning taste and the extraordinary cellar they assembled together.
The auction will close live on October 24th at Sotheby’s Breuer Building in New York, beginning at 10am.
Pulling into the impressive estate, it was immediately evident that the cellar beyond would be equally remarkable. Moments later, that intuition was confirmed. Passing through the glass doors and into the temperature-controlled sanctuary beyond, we were greeted by one of the most impressive collections we’ve seen.
The Family Cellar of Robert and Jannine MacDonnell, themselves legends within the wine world, leaves behind a legacy defined by vinous greatness. Anchored by extraordinary Italian holdings, the collection includes a remarkable Masseto vertical spanning 1988 through 2002, extensive selections from Gaja and Bruno Giacosa, and a full case of 1985 Sassicaia in magnum.
Bordeaux is represented with equal strength, featuring First Growths and Right Bank icons such as Château Haut-Brion 1989, Château Cheval Blanc 2000 in magnum, and an astonishing seven original wooden cases of Château Mouton Rothschild 1982.
The Rhône is equally compelling, with outstanding verticals of Guigal’s famed La La’s wines alongside an abundance of 1990 Château Rayas. Further supplemented by 12-pack original carton cases of Chave Hermitage in 1998 and 2000, and 23 bottles of Jaboulet’s legendary 1978 La Chapelle. Finishing off with case quantities of Château de Beaucastel, Hommage à Jacques Perrin in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
A pristine full case of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg 1999 and Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny 1990 in magnum are simply woven into a collection where greatness is the rule rather than the exception.
Sotheby’s is honored to present this landmark cellar at auction and to steward the next chapter in its remarkable history. The legacy of Robert and Jannine MacDonnell will live on through the wines they so thoughtfully assembled, inspiring collectors for generations to come.
Lot 1001: DRC Richebourg 1999
Lots 1002: Rousseau Chambertin 2002
Lot 1012 - 1021: Vogüé
Lots 1079 - 1089: Leflaive and Ramonet
Lots 1125 and 1143: Lafite and Latour
Lots 1144 - 1159: Mouton
Lots 1160 - 1166: Margaux
Lots 1167 - 1175: Haut Brion and La Mission
Lots 1224 - 1229: Rayas
Lots 1245 - 1249: Jaboulet
Lots 1250 - 1266: Guigal
Lots 1271 - 1313: Masseto
Lots 1314 - 1351: Ornellaia, Solaia, Tignanello
Lots 1353 and 1389: Sassicaia
Lots 1401 - 1402: Conterno Monfortino
Lots 1403 - 1475: Gaja
At the highest level, the MacDonnell cellar reveals both remarkable depth and extraordinary scale. Burgundy is led by a pristine 12-bottle case of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg 1999 and 10 bottles of Rousseau Chambertin 2002. Bordeaux is equally commanding, with Imperials of Lafite, Latour, Mouton and Margaux from the celebrated 2000 vintage, alongside Mouton Rothschild 1982 offered across Imperial, Double Magnum, Magnum and bottle formats. A pristine 12-bottle case of Haut-Brion 1989 is joined by an exceptional run of Pétrus spanning 1966 to 1983, as well as 10 bottles of the legendary 1990. The Rhône delivers extraordinary quantities of Château Rayas, including eight bottles of the 1989 and an astonishing 31 bottles of the 1990. Italy is no less impressive, led by Masseto spanning 1988 to 2002 across Imperial, Double Magnum, Magnum and bottle formats, and Sassicaia 1985 in an exceptionally rare three-magnum original wooden case. In Piemonte, highlights include Giacosa Riserva Asili di Barbaresco 1996 and 2000, six magnums of Giacomo Conterno Monfortino 1990 and a full 12-bottle case of the 1997. Gaja completes the selection with exceptionally large formats, including Sorì San Lorenzo 1985 in magnum and 1990 in Jeroboam, Sorì Tildìn 1997 in Jeroboam, and Costa Russi 2000 in magnum.
