Christie's fine and rare wines auction is coming up at the end of this month, and the likely top lot is just four bottles of Romanée Conti 1990.

However, a close relative of that vintage is also on offer which is deserving of attention in its own right: 12 bottles of La Tâche 1990 - the same grape and estate (Pinot Noir at Domaine Romanée Conti) and the same year of birth.

1990 is regarded as one of the very best vintages of recent years for La Tâche (1991 and 1999 are also well regarded) and these valuable bottles appear to have been well kept despite some slight rubbing of the labels.

Renowned wine critic Allen Meadow's Burghound website describes La Tâche 1990 as follows:

"The finish is intense, pure and so long that it is haunting; I can literally still taste this wine days later after I've had it because it has such a dramatic and emotional impact.

"This is one of the finest, perhaps even the finest young Burgundy I have ever been privileged to try and it only seems to get better with each passing year. In short, this is absolutely brilliant."

Claims that the wine 'seems to get better with every passing year' will do nothing to damage the vintage's potential as an investment.

Christie's wine sale takes place on February 27 and the lot has been given a guide price of $30,000-50,000.