1 bottle per lot
Details
THE GREAT DEPRESSION, PROHIBITION, AND WAR-TIME VINTAGES
As most wine aficionados know these are some of the most difficult vintages to acquire. After the roaring 1920s came to a close, with the colossal back-to-back vintages of '28 and '29, it was as if the party ended. The opening of the decade was by all accounts atrocious. Both grower and merchant had few if any markets willing to buy discretionary consumablesit was after all an era of austerity. While not a cure-all, given the size of the US domestic market, the repeal of Prohibition in 1933 at least meant a new market was on the horizon. Our astute consignor is rightfully concerned to have but a curious amount of the early 1930s vintages in his cellar. As a well-honed buyer of rare wines he knew the quality vintages to invest in began after 1933. Haut-Brion, Ausone, Mouton-Rothschild and Grand Pontet are all represented below in what is accepted as the decade's best vintage, 1934. The decade's other top vintage is 1937.
As one should expect, the War vintages are among the most difficult to come by, especially under original cork. More commonly found are the "Rébouchage" or reconditioned bottles, sometimes with more recent corks, labels and capsules. We have at least two such examples with commensurately branded corks, a 1940 and 1942 La Mission Haut-Brion, both reconditioned years after the war. Post War traditional European sales channels were devastated and economically weak. The reconstruction of viable merchant markets would last well into the 1950s just in time to sell a trio of great vintages: the legendary 1945, 1947 and 1949. Some of these vintages' top examples are on display here for your review: Margaux, Ausone, Latour, Lafite, Gruaud-Larose, Léoville Las-Cases and Lynch-Bages all make an appearance.
Château Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande
--Vintage 1931
Pauillac, 2ème cru classé
Level: upper shoulder; original Château embossed capsule, cut prior to inspection to reveal Château and vintage branded cork, damp stained label
1 bottle per lot
As most wine aficionados know these are some of the most difficult vintages to acquire. After the roaring 1920s came to a close, with the colossal back-to-back vintages of '28 and '29, it was as if the party ended. The opening of the decade was by all accounts atrocious. Both grower and merchant had few if any markets willing to buy discretionary consumablesit was after all an era of austerity. While not a cure-all, given the size of the US domestic market, the repeal of Prohibition in 1933 at least meant a new market was on the horizon. Our astute consignor is rightfully concerned to have but a curious amount of the early 1930s vintages in his cellar. As a well-honed buyer of rare wines he knew the quality vintages to invest in began after 1933. Haut-Brion, Ausone, Mouton-Rothschild and Grand Pontet are all represented below in what is accepted as the decade's best vintage, 1934. The decade's other top vintage is 1937.
As one should expect, the War vintages are among the most difficult to come by, especially under original cork. More commonly found are the "Rébouchage" or reconditioned bottles, sometimes with more recent corks, labels and capsules. We have at least two such examples with commensurately branded corks, a 1940 and 1942 La Mission Haut-Brion, both reconditioned years after the war. Post War traditional European sales channels were devastated and economically weak. The reconstruction of viable merchant markets would last well into the 1950s just in time to sell a trio of great vintages: the legendary 1945, 1947 and 1949. Some of these vintages' top examples are on display here for your review: Margaux, Ausone, Latour, Lafite, Gruaud-Larose, Léoville Las-Cases and Lynch-Bages all make an appearance.
Château Pichon-Longueville, Comtesse de Lalande
--Vintage 1931
Pauillac, 2ème cru classé
Level: upper shoulder; original Château embossed capsule, cut prior to inspection to reveal Château and vintage branded cork, damp stained label
1 bottle per lot