Welcome to our inaugural live auction of 2024, coinciding with the Lunar New Year and the auspicious Year of the Dragon. This event showcases a remarkable collection, including prestigious Year of the Dragon wines spanning from 2012, 2000, to the esteemed 1988. Moreover, indulge in an array of 100-point wines, numerous 99 or 99+ rated selections, and an impressive assortment of larger format bottles, some of which are making their debut in these sizes.
We start strongly with vintages of Te Mata Coleraine and Awatea including the 1988 Year of the Dragon, backed up in the Hawkes Bay with other Dragon wines in the 2000 Te Awa Boundary, Matua Ararimu and Newton Forrest Cornerstone. Church Road Tom, Babich Patriach, Brookfields and Craggy Range Quarry and Sophia headline in the Hawkes Bay. Auckland features prominently with Destiny Bay, The Antipodean, Providence, Stonyridge, St Nesbit, Te Whau, Tantalus and Puriri Hills to round out the New Zealand Bordeaux blends. One of the standout wines here has to be the 6 litre bottling of Stonyridge Larose 2010.
If Pinot is your preferred tipple check out the 1988 Martinborough Vineyards from a former Dragon year, Prophets Rock, Gibbston Valley Reserves, Carrick, Fromm, Two Paddocks and reasonably new entrant from Highgarden in Gibbston Valley.
Our Syrah’s are world class, and this is evident with the heavenly Craggy Range Le Sol, Mills Reef Elspeth, Te Mata and Mission from Hawkes Bay. Other regions with celebrated syrahs include Providence from Matakana, Te Whau, Obsidian and Frenchman’s Hill from Waiheke.
For those craving our beautifully balanced and fresh whites check out the very rare first vintage of Prophets Rock Cuvee aux Antipodes 2018, Te Kairanga John Martin 2016 or the Mission Huchot from 2013.
Wines from the “lucky country” are always well received and this auction is no different with 100 point wines 2008 and 2013 Penfolds Grange backed up with many other Grange vintages including the 99 point and Dragon Year 2012 Penfolds Grange. Also on other Dragon Year wines we offer the 2000 Clarendon Hills Australis and 2012 Glaetzer Anaperenna. These are nestled in with Bin 60A from Penfolds along with Bin 707. Mitolo, Greenock, Torbreck and Jim Barry Armagh from South Australia bring a bit of muscle to the party.
Travel to Europe through our selection of wines from our favourite European destinations. Germany kicks things off with wines from Egon Muller – surely the pinnacle of wines from the Mosel. Italy has some wonderful food wines with but for me the Tuscans with Masseto, Ornellaia (including a 6 litre bottling), Sassicaia and the Wine Spectator 2023 wine of the Year the 2018 Argiano Brunello de Montalcino are hard to go past. Spain too has its superstars with Vega-Sicilia from Ribera del Duero and Muga and La Rioja from Rioja
Next stop France! We kick off the Champagne section with vintages of Dom Perignon with rose and the very collectable Chef de Cave Legacy 2008 (last vintage made by Richard Geoffroy).
Loire pops a couple of vintages of Didier Dagueneau Silex including Dragon Year 2012.
Oh “Lala’s” - Rhone also has had some great wines in our auctions of late and we continue this run with a 100 point wines from Guigal including the 2003 and 2010 La Mouline and 2003, 2009 and 2012 (Dragon Year) La Landonne 2009 and 2010 La Turque. That’s not all from 100 point Guigal wines with 2003 Ex Voto Hermitage. Beaucastel’s 2007 Hommage and Chapoutier’s 1995 Ermitage round out the 100 pointers. Oh Lala indeed!
Burgundy is currently our biggest growth category, and we are delighted with the selection we can offer including wines from Armand Rousseau, Faiveley and Anne Gros. The white Burgundies are equally impressive with Droin, Albert Bichot and Fevre Chablis and Domaine Leflaive Puligny Montrachet.
Bordeaux continues to impress with a big bottling of Chateau Latour 1995 (6 litre). For those craving more there is always Chateaux Margaux, Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild and 750ml bottling of Latour representing the First Growths, or Lefleur, Vieux Chateau Certain and Gazin from Pomerol. Pontet-Canet is always popular as is the fabulous Third Growth Chateau Palmer. All of which will surely bring a smile to one’s face!
Cap off your indulgence with 1977 Warres, 2007 Taylors or magnums of Fonseca 2000 and 2003 Warres Vinatge Port. There is also a lovely selection of Cognacs and Armagnac as well as some hard to find Whiskies from around the world.
If you seek wines at varying stages of maturity, discover a delightful assortment in our current auction. Enjoy your browsing experience, and please bid responsibly, as all bids are binding.
