In connection with MGM Resorts and Sotheby’s presentation of a first-of-its-kind auction of works by Pablo Picasso from the MGM Resorts Fine Art Collection, Sotheby’s is thrilled to bring to market an online auction celebrating many of its Luxury Division categories including Wine, Spirits, Watches, Jewelry, and Handbags. Icons of Endless Luxury is a cross-departmental online sale which celebrates the enduring legacy of iconic luxury brands that only get better with age.
Screaming Eagle, the great Napa cult Cabernet Sauvignon, began as a small project under the leadership of Jean Phillips with the 1992 vintage its debut. It was a success from the start. Small amounts are made of this wine and some wait years to get on the wine list to have the opportunity to purchase a bottle.
On offer in Icons of Endless Luxury is a complete 18 year vertical of Screaming Eagle spanning vintages 1998-2016. These wines were purchased direct on release from the winery and stored in ideal conditions in a custom-built temperature- and humidity-controlled home cellar. This collector is an avid lover of California Cabernets, and this vertical is just a slice from a larger collection. This vertical of Screaming Eagle showcases Napa Cabernet at its finest.
Included in Icons of Endless Luxury are two impressive lots from Buffalo Trace Distillery.
Pappy Van Winkle dominates the secondary market for US Whiskeys owing to its uncompromising quality and long history. The Van Winkle Family are themselves pioneering characters – not just in distillation but also in entertainment; their appearances at tastings, dinners, and events being renowned throughout the industry as unmissable and unforgettable experiences. Lot 102 is a a full vertical (10, 12, 13, 15, 20, and 23 year-old expressions), creating a nine bottle lot from Pappy Van Winkle’s 2019 and 2020 releases. This case contains some of the best bourbon and rye in the world and a piece of American history.
Lot 103 is an unbeatable selection of the rarest and oldest aged whiskey from Buffalo Trace. EH Taylor’s Warehouse C expression has seen over 10 years of maturation in the finest location for whiskey aging in America, while Double Eagle Very Rare and O.F.C 1995 have each been barrel aged for 20 years. All of these bottles are highly limited releases.
Founded in 1960 by Laurence Graff, Graff is a world-renown integrated jewelry and watches House that celebrates diamonds and stones in all their colors and forms.
In 1984, one of the most covetable objects was born in the sky. On a flight from London to Paris, British actress Jane Birkin, sat down next to Jean-Louis Dumas who at the time was Executive Chairman of Hermès. Jane lamented to Monsieur Dumas that she couldn’t find the right bag to suit her needs as a young mother. Monsieur Dumas, who has created many items for the iconic house before, quickly drew up a spacious, rectangular hold all with saddle stitching – a nod to the houses’ equestrian heritage. The Birkin has become one of the most sought-after items in the 21st century, and one that is almost impossible to get. Since it’s original inception it has come in an array of limited editions, leathers, and colors, however, the distinguished, classic style and shape has always remained the same.
Rolex is the most instantly recognizable watch in the world and for good reason: the brand is, in many ways, the industry’s standard-bearer, symbolizing Swiss precision, innovation, luxury and exclusivity. In 1910, five years after its founding, Rolex produced the first watch to receive the Swiss Certificate for Chronometric Precision and the brand has been synonymous with exacting watchmaking ever since. While it may not be the oldest watchmaker, Rolex set the template for watches as we know them today, introducing the first waterproof timepiece in 1926, inventing self-winding ‘perpetual’ technology in 1931 and date displays in 1945. Combined with this innovation, Rolex has set the benchmark for timeless design. It’s iconic models such as the Submariner, GMT, President and Daytona have been produced for decades with each new iteration refining their enduring appearance and appeal whist incorporating countless technical improvements.
Fresh to the market, the last lot in Icons of Endless Luxury is the largest and only step-cut diamond in the shape of the USA. Symbolic of the American Dream – that anyone can ‘make it in America’ – this diamond is offered without reserve.
