Sotheby's has announced that its Finest and Rarest Wines auction is to "present a triple bill of perfection" on September 12 in London.
 While Jayer should lead the auction, Masseto is one to watch |
The sale will feature three strong collections; a Burgundy cellar, a superb selection of Vega Sicilia and an excellent Italian collection, which have been described as "such stuff as dreams are made on".
"With Autumn in the air in Europe, this is the moment for matching furred and feathered game with exciting Burgundy - and this selection offers tantalising possibilities for comparison and long, hedonistic Burgundy dinners," commented Serena Sutcliffe, worldwide head of wine at Sotheby's.
The star of the cellar selection will be 12 bottles of Burgundy champion Henri Jayer's Echezeaux from 1985, with an estimate of £26,000-34,000. The "haunting and mellow" DRC favourite La Tache will follow closely at its heels, with 10 bottles of the 1971 vintage expected to sell for £20,000-26,000.
Making a debut appearance at Sotheby's will be the Bonne Mares 1990 Domaine Georges Roumier, six bottles of which will auction with a £3,400-4,200 estimate.
The second section will comprise wines from Spain's Vega Sicilia, with almost every vintage from 1959-1985 offered and estimates ranging from £600-4,000. "Vega Sicilia is a name that resounds throughout the world, a vinous flagship for its country and a landmark for serious collectors everywhere," commented Sutcliffe.
From the most respected Italian producers comes a collection of over 200 lots, assembled by a "true connoisseur". The leader of this section is the Masseto 2006 Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, with six bottles estimated at £1,900-2,400.
The respected Super Tuscan 50 Index, which is composed of the last 10 vintages of Masseto, Tignanello, Sassicaia, Ornellia and Solaia, has outperformed the Liv-ex 50 Bordeaux index since June 2007 and has seen a five-year return of 76%. This is an investment area to join before the fickle market turns its full attention to Tuscany and prices begin to rise.
