O n Saturday, 12 December, Sotheby's Wine NY is delighted to present its season-finale sale, Vine NY | The Cellar of the Intrepid Sam Lieber + More. Anchoring the auction is the collection of Sam Lieber, whose drinking cellar reflects a decades-long fascination with the classic wines of Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Rhône Valley, and California.
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| | A COMPLETE CHEVAL BLANC COLLECTION IN ALL TEN BOTTLE SIZES | |
| | 1982 LE PIN EN MAGNUM WITH SPECIAL PROVENANCE | |
| | CHAMPAGNE TREASURES FROM AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION | |
| | THE CELLAR OF THE INTREPID SAM LIEBER | |
| | MAJESTIC LARGE-FORMAT BORDEAUX IN OWC | |
| | CLASSIC WINES FROM A NEW ENGLAND CELLAR | |
| | SUPERLATIVE WINES FROM A WEST COAST COLLECTION | |
| | ANCIENT MADEIRAS | |
| | PROPERLY STORED WINES FROM VARIOUS CELLARS |
S otheby’s wine is honored to present The Cellar of The Intrepid Sam Lieber. Assembled over decades, the collection reflects Sam Lieber’s exploration of the world’s great winemaking cultures. The cellar is filled with wines that chart the high points of their respective appellations: DRC, Rousseau, and Roumier Burgundy; Giacosa and Conterno in Barolo; Verset and Clape in Cornas. But what makes the collection unique is Sam’s vibrant curiosity and eye for transcendent producers, for example, Clos Rougeard in the Loire and Keller in Germany.
N o domaine is more closely associated with an appellation than Robert Chevillon is with Nuits St. Georges. Insiders have long celebrated Chevillon’s transcendent premier crus for their striking transparency and faithfulness to the village’s terroirs. These wines are the very definition of this appellation’s noble climats. We are delighted to offer here an anthology of these wines, spanning 1986 - 2015 and comprising the 7 premier crus.
A SPECIAL OFFERING
Sotheby’s is delighted to offer this complete collection of Cheval Blanc 2011, comprising all ten bottle formats currently made (half-bottle to 18-litre Melchior), sourced from the Château and stored perfectly in Mestrezat’s cellars in Bordeaux until removed for this auction.
MESTREZAT GRANDS CRUS
Mestrezat Grands Crus is a leading Bordeaux negociant that was founded in 1815 by Domeine-Guillaume Mestrezat, who was the Consul of Switzerland in Bordeaux. Mestrezat flourished through several generations and owned two classified growths, Château Rayne-Vigneau and Château Grand Puy Ducasse for a few decades. Over the course of its history, Mestrezat Grands Crus has established itself as one of the leading wine merchants of Bordeaux, concentrating on its finest wines.
Owing to its close ties with top-tier chateaux, Mestrezat has amassed an impressive offering of large, rare format bottles.
Mestrezat always places the utmost importance on ensuring provenance and preservation of all their wines. As such, these bottles have come directly from the cellars of each chateau and have been stored in perfect conditions in Mestrezat's cellars, until being shipped to Sotheby's warehouse.
CHEVAL BLANC
Under Jacques Hébrard and, since 1991, Pierre Lurton, Cheval Blanc continues to dazzle. The brilliant technical team at the property coaxes the maximum from this plateau just over the road from Pomerol, where gravel ridges bestow class to the wine and the high percentage of Cabernet Franc gives such scent. And the voluptuous character? That is the magic ingredient, which can be perceived throughout. Cheval Blanc is stunning drunk when it is relatively young, but it also ages in exotic multi-dimensional fashion.
– Serena Sutcliffe, MW
F rom a longtime friend of Sotheby’s, this offering features the greatest Champagne from legendary maisons to artisanal growers including Jacques Selosse, whose wines have become exceedingly rare. There is a particular focus here on the outstanding trio of vintages 1988, 1989 and 1990, alongside large-format magnums and jeroboams in original cartons and wooden cases.
Rarely seen case quantities of these impeccably matured wines are offered here just in time for the holiday season. Part of a much larger collection of the world’s greatest wines, the Champagnes in this sale have been kept in a very cold cellar — ideal conditions for maturing wines, especially Champagne.
Highlights include vintage Jacques Selosse from 1988 and 1990, solera-style Jacques Selosse Origine, and pristine magnums of Pierre Péters Les Chétillons from 1989 and 1990. Not to miss are other exceptional grower Champagne including Larmandier-Bernier, Vilmart Coeur de Cuvée and Paul Bara Comtesse Marie de France.
Additional highlights include Salon, Krug and Dom Pérignon from the 1980s and 1990s in original coffrets, alongside Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1990, Bollinger Grand Année 1990 in magnum format.
