Christie’s offers ‘superlative’ Burgundies from King’s College Cambridge

Next week Christie’s is offering a collection of rare wines and spirits from the historic cellars of King’s College Cambridge, including “superlative” Burgundies and an extremely rare Bowmore 1964 trilogy.

The auction, on 8 June features the Generations of Jayer collection, comprising 45 Burgundy lots that were bought purchased by the college on release from UK importer, Richards-Walfords, and have been stored in the college cellars ever since.

Highlights include Georges & Henri Jayer Echezeaux 2001 (estimate: £50,000 – 70,000) and Emmanuel Rouget, Vosne-Romanée, Cros Parantoux 2005 (estimate: £24,000 – 35,000), which are both offered in previously unopened original cartons.

Other rare Burgundies include wines from Domaine Roumier, Domaine Coche-Dury, Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Armand Rousseau, and Domaine Leflaive along with wines from Bordeaux, the Rhone valley, including Domaine Gentaz-Dervieux, Côte-Rôtie Cuvée Réservée 1990, Italy, and Priorat estate, Terroir al Limit.

The cult Spanish winery has become increasingly collectible in the last ten years –particularly its top crus, Les Manyes and Les Tosses – and two of these will be presented at auction, Terroir al Limit, Les Manyes 2016 (2 bottles per lot, estimate:  £600 –  800) and Terroir al Limit, Les Tosses 2014 (1 x 6L bottle per lot, estimate:  £1,000 – 1,400).

The auction will also feature rare whiskies, including the extremely rare Bowmore 1964 Trilogy (estimate: £50,000 – £70,000) and Cognac from Martell & Biscuit-Dubouché (estimate: 2 bottles per lot  £1,700 – 2,400).

A set of seven whiskies from Royal Salute will also be sold to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II inspired by the Queen’s extensive brooch collection (estimate: £100,000 – 150,000). It is one of only 21 sets released and comes in hand-crafted Dartington Crystal decanters displayed in presentation boxes that evoke the Queen’s personal style. The exclusive whisky blends together high-aged spirits, at over 32 years of age with provenance from no fewer than seven silent stills,. and has been finished for over 2 years in tawny port casks – a wine served during a Coronation Banquet in 1953.

Noah May, head of Christie’s Wine & Spirits Department in London said the wines of Henri Jayer and his nephew, Emmanuel Rouget,  were known to be “incredibly elegant, pure and profound”, with the bottles in this sale boasting the finest provenance and condition.

“This is a collection that is sure to resonate with wine collectors the world over,” he said. 

Adam Bilbey, Christie’s global head of the Wine and Spirits Department said that this glimpse into the King’s College cellars was likely to be a highlight of Christie’s wine sales this season, which had already seen the successful launch of online sales in Los Angeles and three highly important single owner sales in Hong Kong. 

Professor Peter de Bolla, professor of Cultural History and Aesthetics at King’s College Cambridge, who has overseen the cellars of King’s College for thirty years, added that over time serious collectors of fine wines begins to regard their precious purchases as long-term friends, or even children.

“Over the course of my approaching thirty-year stewardship of the cellars of King’s College, Cambridge I have been lucky and privileged to meet many such winemakers and have carefully observed the unique maturation profiles of the wines I have bought from them for the college cellar. None have given me as much instruction and education in the amazing arts of winemaking, as well as the wonder and sheer hedonistic enjoyment of wine at its very finest as the wines of Henri Jayer and his nephew Emmanuel Rouget. The time is right to let these ‘children’ find a new home and provide vinous magic for their lucky new collectors.”