Help for Heroes auction still live

There is still time to bid at the Fine Wine Fair online auction in aid of Help For Heroes. Hosted by Bid for Wine, the lots have been generously donated by the trade and include numerous impressive and, in many cases, unique bottles.

Sports fans will want to snap up the Methuselahs of Moët et Chandon NV, signed by England cricket captain Andrew Strauss and the Harlequins rugby squad. Meanwhile Lionel Nierop, managing director of Bid for Wine, described the case of 2003 Vouvray, Le Haut Lieu, demi-sec non greffé from Domaine Huët as being “rare as hen’s teeth”.

So far it has been the big ticket items which have attracted the most energetic bidding, especially French classics such as the 2001 Gilles Barge Côte Rôtie Cuvée du Plessy and 1995 Château Grand Puy Lacoste Pauillac.

However, a number of bargains still remain, among them magnums of 2004 Cuvée Frederic Emile Riesling from Trimbach and 2003 Echezeaux from Jayer-Gilles.

Picking out one of his own favourites, Nierop flagged up a Jeroboam of 2007 Château Tour du Pas St Georges, St Emilion, with the recommendation that “tasting this from bottle recently it would out-class many bigger names”.

With bidding open until next Friday, 29 October, Nierop urged: “This is pretty much a unique chance to pick up some superb bottles safe in the knowledge that what you’ve paid for them is going directly to help a charity.”

To view the full selection of lots and place your bid, click here.

Gabriel Savage, 21.10.2010