5 gems to excite wine collectors
From a selection of rare Hungarian Tokay to a collection of fine wines made by the legendary Henri Jayer — specialist Edwin Vos selects five highlights from the Fine and Rare Wines auction on 17 May in Geneva
Tokay selection
Tokay selection. Lot 274, Lot 275, Lot 276 and Lot 277. Total estimate of the 5 bottles: CHF 5,600-7,000 ($5,375-6,720). These lots are offered in Fine And Rare Wines on 17 May at Christie’s in Geneva
Tokay, or Tokaj, comes from the east of Hungary and has a century-long reputation as one of the best wines in the world. These very rare bottles from the end of the 19th and early 20th century (shown above) are sought after by connoisseurs, having aged for an extended time in the caves of the Tokaj region — indeed the capsule on lot 277 still has a covering of black mould. These lots were recently offered to us by a Tokay collector with a keen eye for quality.
Armand Rousseau Chambertin 1990
Armand Rousseau Chambertin 1990. Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits. Above 9 bottles per lot. Estimate: CHF 14,000-18,000 ($14,590-18,759). This lot is offered in Fine And Rare Wines on 17 May at Christie’s in Geneva
If Romanee Conti is the queen of Burgundy then Chambertin is the king. Armand Rousseau sets the standard when it comes to top quality wines from Gevrey-Chambertin, and in recent years the interest for Rousseau wines has risen to almost cult level. This lot is part of an extensive collection of finest Burgundies assembled by a Swiss collector who has, over the years, bought the wines upon release. The range of different vintages is unique, with the 1990 Chambertin — an all-time classic — being the highlight.
Château Angelus 1961
Château Angelus 1961; Saint-Emilion, 1er grand cru classé. 12 bottles per lot. Lot 60. Estimate: CHF 4,000-6,000 ($4,168 - $6,253). This lot is offered in Fine And Rare Wines on 17 May at Christie’s in Geneva
1961 was arguably the best Bordeaux vintage of the 20th century. Finding full original wooden cases in impeccable condition is becoming extremely rare, and this case of Angelus is almost pristine and recommended for anyone seeking 1961 Bordeaux in its prime. How much the fame of Angelus has to do with James Bond drinking a bottle of the 1982 vintage in Casino Royale (2006) remains open to question, but pre-1970s Angelus is rarely seen, making this a rare opportunity for collectors.
Château Montrose 1990
Château Montrose 1990; Saint-Estèphe, 2ème cru classé. 12 bottles. Estimate: CHF 4,800-5,800 ($5,002 - $6,044). This lot is offered in Fine And Rare Wines on 17 May at Christie’s in Geneva
Bordeaux connoisseurs the world over covet Chateau Montrose for its powerful, full-bodied wines. This is an undisputed classic from the legendary 1990 vintage, awarded a top mark of 100 points by the influential American wine critic Robert Parker. These bottles of massive, intense wine of a deep ruby colour are all offered in excellent condition.
Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanée, Cros Parantoux 1992
Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanée, Cros Parantoux 1992, 1er Cru, Côte de Nuits. 6 bottles. Estimate: CHF 22,000-26,000 ($22,928 - $27,097). This lot is offered in Fine And Rare Wines on 17 May at Christie’s in Geneva
Last November in Geneva, we offered an extensive range of rare wines from Henri Jayer, an innovative and influential winemaker who was known for the balance and elegance of his wines. This generated excitement among collectors because such a diversity of Jayer wines had rarely been seen. In our May sale we are offering the last bottles from a Northern European collection of Jayer wines, with the highlight being the Cros Parentoux 1992.