Dom Pérignon, from controversy to luxury
With a staggering 250+ bottles of Dom Pérignon sold, this certainly was a bubbling highlight on our 24th auction. Leading with a vintage dating back to 1943, all the way up to 2009.
Harlan Estate 2000
Harlan Estate was founded in 1984. It is a wine estate in the western hills of Oakville California in the centre of Napa Valley. The estate has 17 hectares planted with most being Cabernet Sauvignon, which occupies 70%, followed by 20% Merlot, then 8% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot at just under 2%.
Bill Harlan's dream was to make a wine of the highest quality that could compete with the greatest in French Bordeaux and that could be kept for a very long time.
In 1990 he made his first vintage. It was marketed in 1996 and sold for just under €50.
The average price of a recent year on the international wine market is now more than €1000. This is because of the limited production of +/- 1800 cases per year, the cult status and the various 100-point ratings by Robert Parker and other wine critics. Many dream of one day owning such a bottle in their own collection.
Harlan Estate's beautiful label is derived from a 19th century engraving. The Harlan Estate style is characterised by power, great complexity, luxurious fullness and the ability to mature for more than 20 years.
In 1999, the second wine was introduced on the market. This wine from the 1995 vintage was the result of an even more rigorous selection process of grapes in the vineyard.
This second wine is called "The Maiden".
With a circulation of only 900 cases, this wine is also very rare and difficult to obtain.
From this beautiful American we auctioned 6 bottles in original case.
The years that received 100/100 from Robert Parker are 1994, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2007, 2013, 2015 and 2016.
The most iconic cuvée of the Louis Roederer Champagne House, Cristal!
During our 24th exclusive wine auction, we were able to hammer 200 + bottles of Cristal, counting a total of 48 lots, starting from vintage 1970 up to 2002!
It is safe to say that we have a massive competitive bidding on Cristal. It is a highly sought-after champagne, after all.
La Mission Haut-Brion
Today many people consider Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion as a “sixth 1855 First Growth” because of the high quality level.
Reasons enough why La Mission 1955 is highly sought after.
1955 La Mission Haut Brion also received a 100 Points Parker Score.
The 1955 La Mission is the "wine of the vintage." It possesses a sweet, cedary, clove, smoke, and black raspberry-scented nose, and rich, full-bodied, remarkably harmonious flavours that ooze with ripe fruit, glycerin, and heady alcohol. The tannin has totally melted away, and the wine reveals considerable rust at the edge, so it is unlikely that the 1955 will improve with further cellaring. There is no indication of any fragility or decline, so this wine can be safely drunk for 10-15 more years.
It is an amazing, complex, superbly well-balanced La Mission Haut-Brion! Tasted 13 times with consistent notes. (10/1994)
98 points Vinous
The 1955 La Mission Haut-Brion, served from double magnum, presented quite a contrast to what had been a set of mostly delicate wines up until this point. The 1955 La Mission offered up a compelling array of cigar box, ash, smoke, earthiness and dark fruit in a deep, powerful style. There were elements of a wild, almost animalistic quality to the wine that added to its personality. This was a magnificent bottle of an iconic wine. (AG) (7/2009)
The vineyard
Has a terroir of deep gravel over clay, sand, and chalk in the topsoil. The vineyard is well placed on 2 ridges of gravel hills that reach up to 25 meters in elevation at its highest point. The vineyard is perfectly situated between 2 streams, Ars and Peugue, which help provide moisture in hot, dry vintages. The vines are on average 27 years of age, and they are planted to a vine density of 10,000 vines per hectare.
It is interesting to note, that while the chateau is located across the road from Haut-Brion, many of the vineyards are not quite as close. While most of the vines used by Chateau Haut-Brion are in Pessac, the majority of the vines for La Mission Haut-Brion are in Talence. Although, there are 2 parcels of vines in Pessac Leognan as well.
When you look at the differences in the soils and notice the higher level of vine density at La Mission Haut-Brion than at Haut-Brion, it is easier to understand the differences in the wines styles.
To produce the red wine of Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion, the wine is vinified in large, 180 hectoliter, temperature-controlled, stainless steel vats and aged in 100% new, French oak for an average of 22 months. The annual production of La Mission Haut-Brion averages between 6,000 and 7,000 cases per year. Not much white wine is produced here. The production of La Mission Haut-Blanc is less than 1,000 cases of wine per vintage.
We auctioned 8 bottles of 1955 la Mission Haut Brion, reaching mind blowing numbers.
Lot 262 was good for a total of 41 bids and a massive hammer price of 12000,00 euro.
Lot 263 was good for a total of 25 bids and a nice hammer price of 8700,00 euro.
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