Christie's Introduces Wine Tasting

The selling of wine has become very profitable for the major auction houses.  Both Christie's and Sotheby's are selling wine cellars in London, NY and Hong Kong with some impressive results.  Christie's has been changing the way auction houses do business, as their business model appears to not only include auctions, but private sales, moving and storage, appraising, insurance, galleries and direct to market sale by artists. Now, wine tasting events before a wine sale is being tried to assist and create interest in the soon to be auctioned wine.

The wine tasting event was held on December 1st, followed by the sale December 10th.  The sale totaled 453 lots sold of wine, spirits and cigars for around $1.75  million.  No full results have been posted on the success of the wine tasting event or full details on the sale. Given the amount of interest in wine sales as these sales expand, we as appraisers should become better educated on spotting potential value and desirable vintages.

Christie's recently stated

London –Christie’s is proud to offer wine enthusiasts and collectors a very special Wine Masterclass on 1 December hosted by Château Pichon-Lalande’s Technical Director, Thomas Dô Chi Nam pictured above left. A limited number of sixty places are available for this one-off event where wine aficionados can taste and compare no fewer than eight vintages from the Pichon-Lalande estate dating from 1991-2005. Guests will also be able to gain valuable insight from the wine-maker himself, and ask questions about the estate, the growing conditions and the various vintages. In June 2009 Christie’s sold 24 bottles from Château Pichon-Lalande’s 2001 Vintage for £1,087, and 24 bottles from the 2003 Vintage for £1,489. Tickets for this rare chance to taste and enjoy some of the finest examples and vintages of recent years in the expert company of the man who created them are available for only £70.00 each.

Should any individual vintage particularly tantalize your taste-buds, Christie’s Fine & Rare Wines Including Historic Vintages from the Cellars of Château Pichon-Lalande auction on 10 December will include a selection of 36 lots directly from the reserve cellars of Château Pichon-Lalande. Highlights include rare Marie-Jeanne’s (2.25 litres) of the 1953 and 1962 vintage, Jeroboams of 1970, 1976, 1989, 1990, 1995 and 2000 vintages, Impérials of 1985, 1988, 1990, 2000 and 2005 and bottles of the stellar 1982 vintage. With impeccable provenance, all wines offered in their original wooden cases. This is an absolute must for any serious Claret enthusiast.