Spring has sprung and our auctions continue to present plenty of opportunity to stock up the cellar or grab that trophy bottle for a special occasion. Our selection in this auction is vast and perfectly fitting for the long-promised sunnier times.
We start with the ever-popular New Zealand Bordeaux blends showcasing examples from perennial Hawkes Bay favourites Te Mata Coleraine, Church Road Tom, Craggy Range, Red Metal and Villa Maria all ably supported by Waiheke’s Te Motu, Destiny Bay, Frenchmans Hill and Stonyridge Larose. South Auckland also deserves a mention with Clevedon’s finest Puriri Hills, and if size matters, it is hard to go past the Coopers Creek 6 litre Imperial.
If Pinot Noir is more to your taste, we have some silky and sensuous wines with most viticultural regions represented. Whether it is wines from Hawkes Bay or Martinborough in the North Island or Marlborough and the many sub-regions of Central Otago in the South, there is plenty for the Pinot-lover to choose from.
New Zealand Syrah is making waves internationally and what could be better than Trinity Hill Homage or multiple vintages of Craggy Range Le Sol from Hawkes Bay? To back up these superstars scroll the catalogue for Te Mata Bullnose, Smith & Sheth, Man O’War and Church Road.
The other red varieties showcased in our catalogue include the interesting and rarely seen. Gillman and Esk Valley Terraces are always hotly contested, and we have Cabernet Francs from Sam Harrop, along with Tannat from De La Terre and Montepulicano and Saperavi from Hans Herzog.
New Zealand is not just about our fruit driven reds. As we enter the warmer months a Chardonnay from Kumeu River, or a lovely crisp glass of Felton Road or Dry River Riesling may be more to your taste. Equally, the aromatics from Framingham and Herzog and sparkling wines from Quartz Reef, No 1 Family Estate and Johanneshof are sure to raise an eyebrow.
As you scroll the catalogue, you'll also bump into some wonderful wines from the “west island” with many vintages of Penfolds Grange alongside RWT, Wynns, Shaw + Smith, St Hallett Old Block, Jim Barry Armagh, Yarra Yering and Giaconda.
Argentinian Malbecs are very welcome at any BBQ and this auction presents many a chance to fill your boots, many of which offering great value.
Italian wines are enjoying their day in the sun too, and this sale offers the chance for you to enjoy them with Barolos and Barbarescos from Piedmont, and Tuscan wines such as Brunello, Chianti and some Super Tuscans.
Spain also features well with Vega Sicilia’s Alion from Ribera del Duero and different variants of Muga and older vintages of La Rioja Alta from the Rioja region.
When the sun shines, we all feel a bit festive and what could be more festive than Champagne! We have big bottles of Bollinger Rose (3 litre) and well as magnums of Taittinger and Bollinger NV. Krug and Dom Perignon Roses will be eagerly sought, as will Laurent Perrier’s La Grand Siecle.
For me the sparks really start to fly with the excellent range of wines on offer from the Rhone. Chateauneuf du Papes from Charvin, Paul Avril’s Clos des Papes in the South. If the Northern Rhone takes your fancy, cast your eye over Guigal La Mouline, Rene Rostaing and Yves Cuilleron from Cote Rotie or perhaps a Chave St Joseph?
Burgundy – the wine of kings and the king of wine has some of the great names available; Leroy, Meo-Camuzet, Hudelot-Noellat, Comte Lafon and Lucien la Moine all know a thing or two about Pinot Noir. The whites are equally pleasing especially with Chablis stand-outs Raveneau, Dauvissat and William Fevre.
If aged Bordeaux is more your style, we have 1985 Lafite-Rothschild and 1996 Haut Brion representing the First Growths. Two of the Leovilles: Barton and Las Cases along with 2005 Pontet Canet will all have their fans. But if you missed out on the En Primeur offering from 2018, 2019 and 2020, there are some real beauties in this sale, all at realistic Reserves. These are nestled in the company of many other great value Classed Growths and Bordeaux Superior.
Vintage Port has been on a great run of late, especially the 1977 which is consistently being gobbled up. Warres and Gould Campbell are the 1977 representatives in this auction. The Sandeman 30 Year Old Tawny will surely also turn a few heads.
We finish up with a selection of spirits for those inclined.
Bidding with The Wine Auction Room is easy and transparent. Our Start Prices genuinely start the sale of that item. When you bid with us, rest assured that if you are the top bidder with any Lot, it will be yours. All bids are date and time stamped, so the earliest highest bid will win the lot. Absentee and in-sale bidders have equal opportunity to be successful on the night of the sale.
Finally, as with buying any second-hand goods there can be risk. This risk can be mitigated through reviewing widely available vintage reports, critic reviews, inspecting the detailed photographs for each lot, and setting realistic expectations. 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.
Best of luck with your bids and don’t hesitate to contact us if you would like to know about any of the wines. Please bid responsibly.
All bids are binding.