Anglophiles, royal watchers and Port lovers have a rare chance to add some delicious pieces of British vinous history to their cellars. From now until June 20, Christie’s in London is holding an online auction featuring Bordeaux with royal ties, Vintage Port from the cellars of a 14th-century castle and more.
The auction includes six bottles of Cuvée Charles III, a secret red Bordeaux blend made by Pessac-Léognan’s Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte. The cuvée was made to commemorate the visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the fall of 2023. Charles is a noted enophile, and special wines have been poured in recent memory for his birthday, coronation and other milestones. All proceeds from the sale of the six bottles will be donated to The King’s Trust Group, a network of charities Charles founded almost 50 years ago to support young people around the world.
[article-img-container][src=2024-06/ns_king-charles-christies-wine-auctiond_1600.jpg] [credit= (Christie’s Images Ltd. 2024)] [alt= Bottles of Cuvée Charles III wine from Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte][end: article-img-container]
Beyond the royal bottles, the sale includes a rich collection of Vintage Port sourced from the cellars of Raby Castle, which was built in the 14th century in County Durham. The wines on offer—which include Dow 1924, 1926 and 1927, Fonseca 1934, Cockburn 1950 and Taylor Fladgate 1948—were bought on release by the ancestors of the current Lord Barnard and have been stored in the castle’s cellars. Other wines from Raby Castle’s cellar will be auctioned later this year, but Christie’s says this first sale will be the most significant.
[article-img-container][src=2024-06/ns_king-charles-christies-wine-auctionc_1600.jpg] [credit= (Christie’s Images Ltd. 2024)] [alt= Bottles of Vintage Port wine from Dow, Fonseca, Cockburn and Taylor Fladgate, including the 1927 and 1948 vintages][end: article-img-container]
The auction, which encompasses over 750 lots overall, also draws on a single-owner cellar featuring some of the most collectible names in the world of wine. If you’re low on Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Pétrus or the Bordeaux first-growths, now’s your chance to stock up. Other highlights include mature vintages of R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia (red and white) and a selection of Madeira dating to 1845. Happy bidding!
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