40 magnums and 128 bottles per lot
Details
THE LIQUID GOLD COLLECTION
THREE CENTURIES OF CHATEAU D'YQUEM
The finest and most extensive Collection of Château d'Yquem, both in bottles and magnums, ever to appear at auction
Château d'Yquem
Sauternes, 1er grand cru classé. Château-bottled
Offered for sale lying in a secure and temperature and humidity controlled location in France
Details of the Château
The wines of Château d'Yquem are legendary in the world of Fine Wine. This historic property sits on top of a small hill, with commanding views over its neighbouring Sauternes Châteaux, surrounded by its immaculate and well-tended vines that are famous for bearing the grapes that make this world renowned dessert wine. The history of the buildings at dYquem dates back to the 12th Century and the estate itself, established in the 16th Century. Classified in 1855 as Premier Grand Cru Class the reputation and quality of the wines were at that time already widely known and indeed, d'Yquem wines were considered as superior to the other First Growths of the Médoc that were recognised in the same Classification. The most illustrious and successful period of ownership was under the Lur-Saluces Family from 1785-1997 and since that date the property has been owned a by the LVMH group. Because of its trademark richness and opulence, the wines of Château d'Yquem occupy a unique place in the history and appreciation of Fine Wine. The greatest vintages from the 19th and early 20th Centuries, if well cellared, can still offer glorious tasting experiences now in the 21st Century, with the more modern classics from the latter half of the last Century to the present day, still able to be kept for many, many decades. The methods of production have always been strictly controlled and monitored and because of this rigorous selection, it is said that each vine at d'Yquem only produces one small glass of the golden nectar that is without doubt, the most celebrated sweet wine in the world.
The roll-call of famous vintages produced here is almost without end and from the 19th Century would include the 1825, 1858, 1864, 1869, 1874, 1893 and 1899. The first half of the 20th Century also produced numerous wines that acquired global fame and reputation such as 1900, 1921, 1929, 1937, 1945, 1947 and 1949. Nor has vintage success diminished in the most recent 6 decades with vintages such as 1959, 1967, 1975, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1990 and 2001 being the most sought-after wines of more recent times.
Details of this Collection
This incredible and totally unique Liquid Gold Collection of Château d'Yquem, incorporates 128 bottles and 40 magnums; representing a wide range of rare and excellent vintages in bottle from the 19th Century, every vintage produced in bottle from the 20th and 21st Centuries plus the only major Collection of magnums ever offered at auction spanning the period 1900 to 2005.
Even more importantly, virtually every bottle and magnum included in the Collection has been seen and approved by the dedicated staff at Château d'Yquem in recent times, either for application of new labels or capsules, or for controlled re-corking of many of the older vintages, during the period of 1989 to 2009. Younger vintages from the most recent half century of vintages, are principally still with original corks, capsules and labels. All are considered to be of excellent appearance with appropriate depth of colour for each vintage.
The Romanov Decanter
The unique nature of the Collection is further enhanced by its exclusive presentation in custom-built individual wooden cases, carrying the Liquid Gold Collection logo and vintages for each 12 bottle or 6 magnum outer case. Also included with the Lot, is a very rare and special etched Decanter, from a limited edition of 5 only, this being #4, produced especially by Baccarat for Château d'Yquem and taken from an original 19th Century design created for the Romanovs, the Russian Royal Family.
This is without doubt in our view, the finest and most extensive Collection of Château d'Yquem, both in bottles and magnums, ever to appear at auction and allows prospective bidders the potential to own a unique and guaranteed collection of one of the world's Number One wines spanning three Centuries.
David Elswood
International Head of Wine
Christie's
- one bottle (75cl.) of each of the following vintages
From the 19th Century - 1825, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1860, 1862, 1864, 1865, 1867, 1869, 1870, 1874, 1876, 1878, 1879, 1881, 1882, 1884, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899
From the 20th Century - 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
(No production existed for Château d'Yquem in 1910, 1915, 1930, 1951, 1952, 1964, 1972, 1974 and 1992)
From the 21st Century - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
- and one magnum (150cl.) of each of the following vintages
1900, 1924, 1928, 1945, 1954, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
All bottles and all magnums prior to the 1962 vintage in this collection have been inspected by Château d'Yquem between 1986 and 2009 and have been checked and reconditioned by them with re-corking where necessary and the application of new labels and capsules where required. Where a bottle or magnum has been recorked, the year of re-corking is branded on the cork.
Hence all bottles and all magnums are of exceptional appearance with this unmatched guarantee of authenticity. All bottles and magnums are of the approriate depth of colour considered correct for each vintage and all ullages are at top shoulder/base of neck or better.
40 magnums and 128 bottles per lot
THREE CENTURIES OF CHATEAU D'YQUEM
The finest and most extensive Collection of Château d'Yquem, both in bottles and magnums, ever to appear at auction
Château d'Yquem
Sauternes, 1er grand cru classé. Château-bottled
Offered for sale lying in a secure and temperature and humidity controlled location in France
Details of the Château
The wines of Château d'Yquem are legendary in the world of Fine Wine. This historic property sits on top of a small hill, with commanding views over its neighbouring Sauternes Châteaux, surrounded by its immaculate and well-tended vines that are famous for bearing the grapes that make this world renowned dessert wine. The history of the buildings at dYquem dates back to the 12th Century and the estate itself, established in the 16th Century. Classified in 1855 as Premier Grand Cru Class the reputation and quality of the wines were at that time already widely known and indeed, d'Yquem wines were considered as superior to the other First Growths of the Médoc that were recognised in the same Classification. The most illustrious and successful period of ownership was under the Lur-Saluces Family from 1785-1997 and since that date the property has been owned a by the LVMH group. Because of its trademark richness and opulence, the wines of Château d'Yquem occupy a unique place in the history and appreciation of Fine Wine. The greatest vintages from the 19th and early 20th Centuries, if well cellared, can still offer glorious tasting experiences now in the 21st Century, with the more modern classics from the latter half of the last Century to the present day, still able to be kept for many, many decades. The methods of production have always been strictly controlled and monitored and because of this rigorous selection, it is said that each vine at d'Yquem only produces one small glass of the golden nectar that is without doubt, the most celebrated sweet wine in the world.
The roll-call of famous vintages produced here is almost without end and from the 19th Century would include the 1825, 1858, 1864, 1869, 1874, 1893 and 1899. The first half of the 20th Century also produced numerous wines that acquired global fame and reputation such as 1900, 1921, 1929, 1937, 1945, 1947 and 1949. Nor has vintage success diminished in the most recent 6 decades with vintages such as 1959, 1967, 1975, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1990 and 2001 being the most sought-after wines of more recent times.
Details of this Collection
This incredible and totally unique Liquid Gold Collection of Château d'Yquem, incorporates 128 bottles and 40 magnums; representing a wide range of rare and excellent vintages in bottle from the 19th Century, every vintage produced in bottle from the 20th and 21st Centuries plus the only major Collection of magnums ever offered at auction spanning the period 1900 to 2005.
Even more importantly, virtually every bottle and magnum included in the Collection has been seen and approved by the dedicated staff at Château d'Yquem in recent times, either for application of new labels or capsules, or for controlled re-corking of many of the older vintages, during the period of 1989 to 2009. Younger vintages from the most recent half century of vintages, are principally still with original corks, capsules and labels. All are considered to be of excellent appearance with appropriate depth of colour for each vintage.
The Romanov Decanter
The unique nature of the Collection is further enhanced by its exclusive presentation in custom-built individual wooden cases, carrying the Liquid Gold Collection logo and vintages for each 12 bottle or 6 magnum outer case. Also included with the Lot, is a very rare and special etched Decanter, from a limited edition of 5 only, this being #4, produced especially by Baccarat for Château d'Yquem and taken from an original 19th Century design created for the Romanovs, the Russian Royal Family.
This is without doubt in our view, the finest and most extensive Collection of Château d'Yquem, both in bottles and magnums, ever to appear at auction and allows prospective bidders the potential to own a unique and guaranteed collection of one of the world's Number One wines spanning three Centuries.
David Elswood
International Head of Wine
Christie's
- one bottle (75cl.) of each of the following vintages
From the 19th Century - 1825, 1856, 1857, 1858, 1860, 1862, 1864, 1865, 1867, 1869, 1870, 1874, 1876, 1878, 1879, 1881, 1882, 1884, 1885, 1887, 1889, 1890, 1891, 1892, 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, 1897, 1898, 1899
From the 20th Century - 1900, 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1924, 1925, 1926, 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999
(No production existed for Château d'Yquem in 1910, 1915, 1930, 1951, 1952, 1964, 1972, 1974 and 1992)
From the 21st Century - 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
- and one magnum (150cl.) of each of the following vintages
1900, 1924, 1928, 1945, 1954, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1973, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
All bottles and all magnums prior to the 1962 vintage in this collection have been inspected by Château d'Yquem between 1986 and 2009 and have been checked and reconditioned by them with re-corking where necessary and the application of new labels and capsules where required. Where a bottle or magnum has been recorked, the year of re-corking is branded on the cork.
Hence all bottles and all magnums are of exceptional appearance with this unmatched guarantee of authenticity. All bottles and magnums are of the approriate depth of colour considered correct for each vintage and all ullages are at top shoulder/base of neck or better.
40 magnums and 128 bottles per lot