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otheby’s is delighted to introduce Fine & Rare wines | Bordeaux, Burgundy and Beyond, an extraordinary selection gathering the most impressive private European cellars that have in common excellent provenance and state-of-the-art storage conditions. This constitutes a unique moment for enlightened connoisseurs and collectors to acquire delicious vintages from the world’s best producers.
Built as a journey in time and in the vineyards, this sale represents the opportunity to bring to your cellar some of the most stunning wines ever produced.
Taking off in elegance from Burgundy where the finest Pinot Noir from top class Domaines are presented in mouth-watering vintages like an Assortment Case of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2000, Musigny from Domaine Leroy 2007 or the rare La Romanée Grand Cru 1996. Traveling south, the Great Whites are clearly the undisputed stars of this sale with case quantities from Leflaive and the historical Bâtard Montrachet, Chevalier Montrachet and the vast majority of the Puligny-Montrachet renowned climats.
Beyond Burgundy, this sale features rarities from the Southern Rhône valley with Château Rayas in case quantities and other cuvées of this unmissable producer. Epic vintages are available with Château Rayas 2009 or Château de Fonsalette 1999 just to name a few.
The journey continues to Bordeaux which has a rich selection covering the First Growths over more than a century and provides access to acclaimed Châteaux from Right and Left banks. This is underlined by rare magnums of Château Mouton d’Armailhacq 1916, Château Latour 1952, Château Margaux 1959 , Yquem 1967 and rarely seen Petrus 1959. True Bordeaux lovers will enjoy large formats such as Petrus 1986 and 2016 in magnums and a rare Imperial Lafite Rothschild 1983.
This array of stunning Bordeaux is concentrated in the iconic vintages of the 1980s and the 1990s. Along your way in this region, you might take a break in front of Petrus 1982, Château Margaux 1990 or Château Lafite Rothschild 2000.
Other top producers from famous wine regions are also present with Champagne Salon cuvée S, Domaine de la Grange des Pères 2000, Côte Rôtie La Landonne 2002 from E. Guigal and Domaine de Trevallon 2000.
Beyond France, there is a treasure of rare gems, mainly from Italy, with iconic wines such as Masseto 1998, Sassicaia 2006, Ornellaia 2006 including magnums and jeroboams, to pursue a never-ending journey throughout the world of fine wines.
Lots 1-41: Only Leroy - Domaine et Maison
Lots 42-151: Legendary wines with Rayas, Leflaive and Leroy
Lots 152-301: DRC & Top Bordeaux in excellence
Lots 302-339: DRC & Italian jewels
Lots 340-385: Eclectic worldwide treasures
Lots 386-514: 1990’s Bordeaux
Lots 515-569: Petrus and stars of Burgundy
Lots 570-594: Fine & Rare wines
Introduction by Serena Sutcliffe, MW
I very often receive rapturous communications about Leroy wines from friends and clients and they all begin, I have just had an amazing experience. These wine lovers are clearly bewitched by both Domaine Leroy and Maison Leroy bottles and cannot wait to express their admiration. The wines have immense impact, depth and authority – in short, they are exciting.
Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy is often described as the Queen of Burgundy and she has spread wide her influence and convictions. She loved wine from her youth and was brought up amongst the greatest vineyards of Burgundy. From the outset, she championed old vines, massal selections and healthy soil, which led to her becoming one of the first advocates and practitioners in Burgundy of biodynamics. Low yields and infinite care at every stage of winemaking are a given, with long macerations for the reds and bottling according to the lunar calendar.
This is a glorious selection of both Domaine and Maison Leroy wines, from every appellation and vintages for keeping or drinking from now. They come from an extremely discerning wine collector who loves these wines, but who has allowed us to bring this group of treasures to our worldwide Leroy enthusiasts. They are wines that produce gasps of pleasure round the table – for those lucky enough to have them usually share Leroy gems with their greatest friends, sharing a quality of generosity with the wines themselves.
SERENA SUTCLIFFE, MW
From a Leroy aficionado, this impressive list of wines from Maison and Domain Leroy emphasys an extreme dedication to perfection. Burgundy wines have been appreciated for centuries, served at many of the world’s most momentous and historic occasions, and the region creates iconic winemakers, revealing the best of incredible terroir with elegance and simplicity.
This remarkable collection is stamped with the authority of someone who is often described as the Queen of Burgundy, Madame Lalou Bize-Leroy. Her influence in this most blessed of French wine regions is profound and she has spread her convictions and experience. She has also created huge worldwide demand for her wines, with devotees going to great lengths to find those appellations and crus that particularly appeal to them.
Lalou Bize-Leroy loved wine from her youth and was brought up amongst the vines, the daughter of the famed Henri Leroy who became co-owner of the Domaine de la Romanée Conti. At first, Lalou Bize-Leroy concentrated her talents on her selection of wines for Maison Leroy but, in 1988, she bought Domaine Charles Noëllat with its great vineyard holdings, thus forming the basis of Domaine Leroy. A year later, she made her first vintage at the newly created estate of Domaine d’Auvenay. From the outset, she was committed to old vines, massal selections and healthy soil, which led to her becoming one of the first pioneers in Burgundy of biodynamics. Low yields and infinite care at every stage of winemaking are a given, with long macerations for the reds and bottling according to the lunar calendar. Domaine Leroy’s reds have an authority, a depth and an impressive fleshiness.
Previously kept over 3 decades in optimum conditions and with vintages spanning 1999 to 2008, this stunning selection will give you some of the best fine wines such as Domaine Leroy Musigny 2007, Domaine Leroy Clos de de Vougeot 2007 and from the same Domain a great Corton Charlemagne 2008.
Sotheby’s Wine is proud to offer this stunning collection of some of the greatest and most sought-after Burgundy and Rhône Domaines.
All these wines were amassed by a discerning and passionate collector and were sourced directly from the Domaines. The vast majority are offered in their original cartons or original wooden cases, stored and showcased in a European state-of-the-art cellar.
This section opens with one of the most prestigious Domaines in Rhône, the magnificent Château Rayas. With the sheer plethora on offer, and considering the limited production, this is a sale to excite all the knowledgeable wine lovers with the entire range of wines produced by the Reynaud family from the iconic Chateau Rayas to both Chateaux Fonsalette and Domaine Des Tours.
Read More from Serena Sutcliffe, MW
This is one of the most stimulating wine sales we have held in recent times, with the added attraction of offering a marvelous selection of wines from several of France’s famed wine producing families. Needless to say, it is often difficult to obtain these wines in many parts of the globe and serious wine lovers tend to become frustrated when they read about, but cannot reach, the wines they have seen glowingly described in print, when they would much prefer to see them in their glass. That is quite understandable and, with this sale, we aim to give our whole international audience the chance to give themselves a treat.
The Reynaud family name is synonymous with viticulture in the South of France, that sun-soaked, historical area that gives us such luscious, generous wines that warm the heart – and that do a great deal for gastronomic dishes as well. The King of the range is undoubtedly Château Rayas, the Châteauneuf du Pape that is unlike any other, from sandy soil and the Grenache grape. The cooler climate in their zone of the appellation gives them this possibility and the result is original opulence on a grand scale. Pignan is the other red Châteauneuf, with its own terroir, but still solely Grenache – compare the two and become an expert in the area. There is also the rare Rayas Blanc, a unique wine made from Grenache and Clairette.
However, the genius of the Reynaud family does not stop there – far from it! The extraordinary Château de Fonsalette is a Côtes du Rhône that transcends its appellation, with Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah reigning supreme for the red wine and Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Marsanne for the white. There is also the 100% Syrah red that is outstanding.
As if that were not enough, Emmanuel Reynaud also manages Château des Tours and Domaine des Tours, falling under the Vacqueyras, Côtes du Rhône and Vin de Pays de Vaucluse appellations. Nurtured with the utmost care, these are unfined and unfiltered southern beauties, vivid and aromatic and all spicy berries. One’s gastric juices call for game stews, cassoulet or duck to match these sun-filled wines.
As a complete contrast, this sale includes a range of captivating Burgundy, red and white wines from Leroy and flagship white Burgundy from Leflaive. Biodynamics play a huge part in the wines from both these houses and one sees the way tastes can be conjured up from the land, with some human help of course. And the line-up of vintages is truly appetizing.
We are delighted to bring to the market such a glittering array of wines from some of France’s greatest vinous family dynasties.
SERENA SUTCLIFFE, MW
In this collection, Burgundy is King as well with a selection of red and white from both Maison and Domaine Leroy - arguably producing one of the greatest red Burgundy wines on the Cote d’Or at present.
Following, is the great Domaine Leflaive, the most famous estate in Puligny-Montrachet with a splendid selection of some of the best vintages produced recently including a large offering of the Grands Crus, with a focus on Chevalier-Montrachet, Bâtard-Montrachet and a rare bottle of Montrachet 2010 to full cases of the Premier Crus including a 12 bottle cases of Les Pucelles 2010 . All these bottles are straight from the Domaines with consecutive numbers.
Finally, we should close this collection with ultra-rare and rarely seen magnums of Jayer-Gilles.
This collection is a pleasure for discerning palettes.
This is the story of a man with refined tastes who nurtured his cellar by decades of passionate collecting and who focused only on the very best wines of Burgundy and Bordeaux. The names alone are enough to excite any true wine lover, from the famed Domaine de la Romanee-Conti to Domaine Armand Rousseau, Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier and the highly coveted La Romanée from Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair. In Bordeaux, all the greatest have found an elegant home from Lafleur, Lafite Rothschild to Mouton Rothschild. All these wines have been stored in perfect condition since their purchase mostly direct from the Domaines and despite their rarity the quality of vintages on offer mean that there is truly something for everyone!
To broaden your perspective, a selection of the best French regions, Loire with Domaine de la Coulée de Serrant in ready to drink vintages, Languedoc with the acclaimed Domaine de la Grange des Pères, Champagne with Salon, Le Mesnil, and to extend the voyage to the frontiers of wine you could visit exceptional territories with a Marc from Domaine de la Romanée Conti 1999 and an astonishing 1820 Cognac from Château de Puybautier.
Just before a well-deserved summer holiday and under a pleasant Italian sun, we found the soul of Tuscany excellence with carefully curated names such as Sassicaia, Ornellaia or Masseto. These well-preserved collections with excellent storage conditions include large formats and provide great opportunity to select the most impressive and well-known Italian names.
