Fine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online Day 2: Featuring a Collection Direct from González Byass

Sale Overview

This three part sale is a treasure trove of fine wines from Historical Archives of González Byass, The Connoisseur’s Collection and A Superlative Private Cellar

The story of González Byass began in Jerez in 1835. Nearly two centuries on, the house remains wholly in family hands and for Christie’s June 2026 auction, they have released a selection of rare and historic wines direct from the deepest cellars. A rare bottle of González Byass, Pio IX 1846 leads the sale, a fine Moscatel bottled in honour of the appointment of His Holiness Pope Pio IX in 1846. Furthermore, we are offering a single bottle of González Byass, Manuel María González, Oloroso 1886, bottled to commemorate the birth of Manuel María González, the grandson of the founder of González Byass. We are offering three Matusalem: delectable sweet Cream sherries that were bottled in 1908, 1909 & 1911. Lastly, bottles of Tio Pepe En Rama and bottles of a 1997 vintage Palo Cortado, a sherry specially selected by Tim Triptree MW and Antonio Flores from the soleras of La Cuadrada, are offered.

The Connoisseur’s Collection is a thoughtfully assembled collection reflecting a lifetime of patient acquisition from a European collecting family. The wines in this cellar span more than a century and offer extraordinary riches from multiple regions. Anchored by historic Bordeaux reaching back to the late 19th century, alongside white and red Burgundy from a range of compelling producers and rare German wines from some of the best vintages of the 20^th century. This is a true wine lovers offering and highlights include Châteaux Lafite-Rothschild 1904, Haut-Brion 1926 and Cheval-Blanc 1918 in magnum, Château Margaux 1982, Château Montrose 1961 and Château Léoville Poyferré 1921 in bottle. Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, Musigny 1983, Moët & Chandon 1947 in magnum and Vega Sicilia, Único 1966 are further highlights.

The core of the sale is A Superlative Private Cellar, a single-owner collection of rare wines featuring the very best producers from across the world. The majority of the collection was purchased on release from a highly respected UK wine merchant. All the in-bond wines, have been stored in ideal conditions in Octavian’s bonded warehouse. The duty paid wines were stored in a country-house wine cellar, ensuring perfect provenance and excellent cellaring conditions. Highlights are from esteemed Domaines such as Robert Groffier, Joseph Drouhin, Hubert Lignier, Comte Liger-Belair, JF Mugnier, Etienne Sauzet, Leflaive, Bachelet Monnot, Gagnard, Comtes Lafon, Coche-Dury and Dauvissat. Also included are exceptional Bordeaux from Mouton Rothschild, La Mission Haut Brion, Léoville Las Cases, Petrus, Le Pin, Angelus and Lafleur. From the Rhône, Hermitage from Chave are offered, and from Italy fantastic Super-Tuscan greats, Masseto, Ornellaia and Sassicaia, feature alongside from Piedmont; Giacomo Conterno and Bartolo Mascarello. From the new world, Screaming Eagle, Harlan, Bond Estates, Opus One and Penfolds Grange complete this superlative collection.

Brought to you by

Noah May

Head of Wine and Spirits EMEA | Wine & Spirits

Noah joined Christie’s London Wine Department in 2007, after graduating from The University of Leeds with an honors degree in English Literature and Philosophy. Noah has been involved in several high-profile wine auctions in Europe, including the sale of Historic Cognacs from the Private Cellars of La Tour d’Argent in 2012 and the sale of Fine Wines from the Private Collection of Sir Alex Ferguson CBE in 2014. In May 2013, Noah was awarded the British Guild of Food Writers Award for Food Writer of the Year for various publications relating to wine and gastronomy. In September 2014, Noah joined Christie’s New York Wine Department, where he worked as Head of Sale, focused on building relationships with American collectors, the sourcing of rare wines and spirits for auctions in the US and Europe, sale curation and specialist wine events. In June 2018, Noah returned to Christie’s London Wine Department as Head of Department and is mainly focused on developing Christie’s Wine Department’s profile in the UK and across Europe, sourcing exceptional collections of Wines and Spirits for sale, inspection and authentication of property and building long-term relationships with collectors around the world. Noah’s professional interests include the fine wines of Burgundy, Bordeaux and Rioja, and the rare spirits market, with a focus on collectible whisky.

Charles Foley

Specialist | Wine & Spirits

Charlie joined Christie’s in 2014 after working for a fine wine merchant in the City. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he achieved 1st Class Honours in Classics, specializing in the ancient wine trade in Rome and Greece. He has worked for vineyards in South Africa and Argentina and won a scholarship to attend the European Wine Bloggers Conference in Turkey and subsequently also travelled with the Conference to Rioja. He has completed his WSET Diploma and has been pleased to work on auctions at Christie’s such as the Avery Family Collection, the Cellars of the Earl of Halifax and Wines from the Malbec Family Collection.