6 bottles per lot
Details
CHATEAU LA MISSION HAUT BRION
A History of the Château
The vineyard of Château La Mission Haut Brion owes its name, origin and ancient reputation to a congregation called "The Mission Preachers" founded in the 17th century by Saint Vincent de Paul. In 1792, after the Revolution, the property was confiscated and put up for sale as a "national asset" and acquired by Martial-Victor Vaillant. On October 5, 1821, the estate passed into the hands of Celestin Chiapella for 91,000 francs. Chiapella had family ties in New Orleans and soon developed an export trade for the wines of La Mission Haut Brion.
By the time Jerome Chiapella sold the estate to the Etablissements Duval in Paris, La Mission and its wine had become well known in France, Great Britain and America.
In 1895, Ferdinand de Constans, wine merchant in Bordeaux, bought La Mission. In 1903, he sold it to Victor Coustau, owner of La Tour Haut-Brion and in 1919, Frederic Otto Woltner purchased La Mission.
The Woltners brought La Mission into the technological era : they installed, for the first time in Bordeaux (1926), square steel vats with glass-lined interiors. They also improved the quality of the white wine, Laville Haut-Brion.
They were close friends of Victor and Marie Coustau, neighbors and owners of Chbteau La Tour Haut-Brion. When Victor Coustau died, as a favour to his widow, the Woltner brothers took over the management of the property. When she died the grateful Marie Coustau bequeathed Château La Tour Haut-Brion, also a classified growth of the Graves, to them.
Henri Woltner, Frederic's son, passed away in 1974 leaving la Mission to be managed by family members. The Family ultimately sold La Mission and its two sister properties La Tour Haut Brion and Laville Haut Brion to the Domaine Clarence Dillon, owner of Château Haut Brion, in 1983.
"Henri and Fernand (Woltner), the sons of Frederic who had purchased the estate, were sold partners from 1926 until they died in the 1970s. They were brilliant innovative winemakers and managers."
MB, Vintage Wine
1929 *****
"A wonderful vintage. At its best the epitome of elegance and finesse, and the end of an era."
MB, Vintage Wine
Château La Mission-Haut-Brion--Vintage 1929
Talence (Graves), cru classé
All lots bin soiled labels
Lot 2072-2074 levels: one very top, two top and two upper/top shoulder. Lot 2075 levels: two top, one upper and two upper/mid shoulder; two deteriorated labels
Parcel: lots 2072-2074
Tasting note from a representative bottle from this cellar:
Clear garnet with amber edge; initially a complex, singed aroma, which opened up to show rich, fruit-cake character. On first opening, the fruit was brisk and lean, the texture chewy. With one hour's aeration this fleshed out into a rich, round, long-flavoured wine of real beauty, still full of life. AH
The 1929 La Mission has always had a tremendous reputation. One of the earliest sucesses of the Woltner family ownership. Level upper shoulder, very good for a wine in it's 75th year. Probably bottled in 1931 and with its original cork in fair condition. Medium-deep a 'warm', soft, mature red brown colour with a touch of orange at the rim. A sort of bouquet which reminds me of an old oak tree, rich, slightly singed; dry, impressive, tangy flavour. Magnificent.
6 bottles per lot
A History of the Château
The vineyard of Château La Mission Haut Brion owes its name, origin and ancient reputation to a congregation called "The Mission Preachers" founded in the 17th century by Saint Vincent de Paul. In 1792, after the Revolution, the property was confiscated and put up for sale as a "national asset" and acquired by Martial-Victor Vaillant. On October 5, 1821, the estate passed into the hands of Celestin Chiapella for 91,000 francs. Chiapella had family ties in New Orleans and soon developed an export trade for the wines of La Mission Haut Brion.
By the time Jerome Chiapella sold the estate to the Etablissements Duval in Paris, La Mission and its wine had become well known in France, Great Britain and America.
In 1895, Ferdinand de Constans, wine merchant in Bordeaux, bought La Mission. In 1903, he sold it to Victor Coustau, owner of La Tour Haut-Brion and in 1919, Frederic Otto Woltner purchased La Mission.
The Woltners brought La Mission into the technological era : they installed, for the first time in Bordeaux (1926), square steel vats with glass-lined interiors. They also improved the quality of the white wine, Laville Haut-Brion.
They were close friends of Victor and Marie Coustau, neighbors and owners of Chbteau La Tour Haut-Brion. When Victor Coustau died, as a favour to his widow, the Woltner brothers took over the management of the property. When she died the grateful Marie Coustau bequeathed Château La Tour Haut-Brion, also a classified growth of the Graves, to them.
Henri Woltner, Frederic's son, passed away in 1974 leaving la Mission to be managed by family members. The Family ultimately sold La Mission and its two sister properties La Tour Haut Brion and Laville Haut Brion to the Domaine Clarence Dillon, owner of Château Haut Brion, in 1983.
"Henri and Fernand (Woltner), the sons of Frederic who had purchased the estate, were sold partners from 1926 until they died in the 1970s. They were brilliant innovative winemakers and managers."
MB, Vintage Wine
1929 *****
"A wonderful vintage. At its best the epitome of elegance and finesse, and the end of an era."
MB, Vintage Wine
Château La Mission-Haut-Brion--Vintage 1929
Talence (Graves), cru classé
All lots bin soiled labels
Lot 2072-2074 levels: one very top, two top and two upper/top shoulder. Lot 2075 levels: two top, one upper and two upper/mid shoulder; two deteriorated labels
Parcel: lots 2072-2074
Tasting note from a representative bottle from this cellar:
Clear garnet with amber edge; initially a complex, singed aroma, which opened up to show rich, fruit-cake character. On first opening, the fruit was brisk and lean, the texture chewy. With one hour's aeration this fleshed out into a rich, round, long-flavoured wine of real beauty, still full of life. AH
The 1929 La Mission has always had a tremendous reputation. One of the earliest sucesses of the Woltner family ownership. Level upper shoulder, very good for a wine in it's 75th year. Probably bottled in 1931 and with its original cork in fair condition. Medium-deep a 'warm', soft, mature red brown colour with a touch of orange at the rim. A sort of bouquet which reminds me of an old oak tree, rich, slightly singed; dry, impressive, tangy flavour. Magnificent.
6 bottles per lot
Special notice
ParcelWineChristie's is selling all lots in this sale as agent for an organization which holds a State of New York Exempt Organization certificate. Seller explicitly reserves all trademark and trade name rights and rights of privacy and publicity in the name and image of Doris Duke. No buyer of any property in this sale will acquire any right to use the Doris Duke name or image. Seller further explicitly reserves all copyright rights in designs or other copyrightable works included in the property offered for sale. No buyer of any property in the sale will acquire the rights to reproduce, distribute copies of, or prepare derivative works of such designs or copyrightable works.