The Cellar of Tony Astle

The Cellar of Tony Astle (#133)
04/09/2024 11:30 AM NZST - 08/09/2024 7:12 PM NZST CLOSED
Starts Ending 08/09/2024 7:00 PM NZST

Description

It is with enormous pride that we bring this single vendor auction of Tony Astle to market. This is an extension of the single vendor Antoines auction we conducted a couple of years ago. To say Antoine's was an institution does not do it enough justice. Tony and the late Beth Astle have served Auckland and beyond for 48 years. Not only have I had the pleasure of dining at this internationally renowned establishment as a young fella with my family, but I also worked there as part of the waiting team during the 1980s. Working there, you become part of the Antoine’s family and all that goes with that. There are many high-profile names that have at some stage been part of this family, with many going on to their own restaurants and being part of the fabric that is our excellent hospitality scene. Tony has supported me in my career since I worked there and continues to do so. For this, I shall always be very grateful.

This auction really does have something for everyone – especially those with a fondness and memories of the great dining room. With the initial auction, Tony did decide to keep many of the very top end wines for himself (and rightly so). We now have those wines available to you in this second auction - The Cellar of Tony Astle. This incredible array is from wine-lists of many years ago, as well as the wines that Tony really didn’t want to sell in the restaurant as they were wines that he did want to drink himself (and the wine list really didn't need any more enhancing!)

Many of the older wines in this auction were from age-old wine-lists and had been stored in the depths of the Parnell Space Station on St Georges Bay Road or the concrete bunker that was behind the Parnell shops just up the road from the restaurant before being stored at home in a cool, dark place. We have gone through all the wines made available to us, and while some didn’t make it to auction, we have been able to put together many Lots of these wines; pricing them accordingly. Some of these wines maybe not be at their optimum, reflected by their start prices/bids of $2.

There are many cellar fillers here, as well as some everyday wines – not to mention many memories.

To Tony, we salute you and thank you for bringing to us and maintaining your great establishment … and teaching us how to party in style – if only those walls could talk! Thanks Chef.

Now a final word when buying any second-hand goods, there can be risk. This risk can be mitigated through reviewing widely available vintage reports and critic reviews and imposing realistic expectations. You will also notice that our photographs of each new lot are very detailed, helping you to inspect the wine from the comfort of your seat. The reward however, of a fine wine at its absolute peak of maturity, offering its full range of primary, secondary and tertiary flavours should be significant enough for most to negate the occasional disappointment. So, if the risk-reward scales are deemed favourable, we have a lovely selection of wines at various stages of maturity available in our current auction, along with glassware and accessories.

Happy browsing and please bid responsibly.

Collection Information

To collect your purchases from The Wine Auction Room, please contact the team at least 24 hours prior to your preferred collection time. Collection is from 16-22 Virginia Avenue East, Eden Terrace. If you have supplied us with an out of Auckland address we will automatically assume you will want your wine couried to you. The cost of the courier is passed on at our cost and will automatically be added to your invoice. All wine must be collected within 10 days of invoice.

Terms and conditions

Important Conditions of Sale

Full terms and conditions are available to view here.

Viewing by appointment only.

CONDITION OF WINE

Goods are described as accurately as can be ascertained by The Wine Auction Room at the time, however Buyers of older wine must make appropriate allowances for natural variations of ullage and the condition of corks and labels. The Wine Auction Room has made every effort to describe any bottle that is not in excellent condition. Each Lot is sold by the Vendor with all faults and defects (if any) and with all errors of description and shall be at the Buyer’s risk on the fall of the hammer and neither The Wine Auction Room nor the Vendor shall be accountable for any deficiency, damage or loss which may arise thereafter.

CONDITIONS OF SALE FOR BUYERS

Please refer to www.wineauctionroom.com for The Terms and Conditions For Buyers. The Terms and Conditions For Buyers can also be viewed in The Wine Auction Room’s sale room.

BIDDING

All bids and price estimates are per bottle (excepting sets), not per lot. For example, if you make a bid of $10 per bottle on a lot containing 12 bottles you are making a total bid of $120. All prices are in New Zealand dollars. Successful buyers shall pay to The Wine Auction Room a buyer’s premium of 17.5% of the hammer price plus GST on the premium.

Bidding is per bottle and you must take the entire lot on offer unless the auctioneer states otherwise. All wines are checked prior to consignment. Phone bidding is by prior arrangement. Absentee bidding is available for registered bidders.

INCREMENTS

$1 - $19 $1 increments

$20 - $49 $2 increments

$50 - $99 $5 increments

$100 - $499 $10 increments

$500 - $999 $20 increments

$1000 - $4999 $50 increments

$5000+ $100 increments

ONLINE BIDDING

You can also bid online during the auction if you have registered with us.

PAYMENT

Payment is Cash, Credit Card or Money Transfer. We accept Visa and MasterCard for all wine purchases with an addition of 3%. Payment must be cleared prior to collection of wine and is due five days after the completion of the auction at the latest. This includes all buyers either Absentee Bidders or those present on the night.

COLLECTION

Ratings

We have used ratings from a number of well-known wine writers. RP (RobertParker.com), WS (Wine Spectator), AG (Vinous), JO (Jeremy Oliver), JCL (Jeannie Cho Lee MW), BC (Bob Campbell MW) D (Decanter), CD (Cameron Douglas MS), WR (NZ Wine Rater) and BH (Burghound) scores are out of 100. JR (Jancis Robinson MW) and (RC) Raymond Chan are scores out of 20.

Descriptions

Ullage is the term that refers to the gap between the bottom of the cork and the fill level of the wine. All wines are listed in the catalogue have Ullage level “IN into neck” or higher. If the level is lower, it is stated in the catalogue.

TS (Top Shoulder) A good level in any wine 20 years or older.

US (Upper Shoulder) Indicates slight natural reduction through easing of the cork and evaporation through the capsule

MS (Mid Shoulder) Indicates some weakening of the cork and therefore some risk. This is not unusual in wines over 50 years old and estimates will take this into account.

LMS (Low Mid Shoulder) indicates high risk and will attract low estimates.

OC Original Carton

OPB Original Presentation Box

OWC Original Wooden Case

IN Into Neck

TS Top Shoulder Fill

US Upper Shoulder Fill

MS Mid Shoulder Fill

LS Low Shoulder Fill

TC Torn Capsule

OX Oxidised Capsule

NC No Capsule

CC Corroded Capsule

RL Replacement Label

FL Faded Label

TL Tattered Label

TOL Torn Label

STOL Slightly Torn Label

HSL Heavily Stained Label

BSL Bin Stained Label

TSL Tissue Stained Label

SOL Soiled Label

LL Lifted or loose label

SC Screw Cap

AC Alternative Closure

NAT Natural Wine

* indicates a representative of The Wine Auction Room or a Trade vendor.

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