RAREST MADEIRA
Lying at Christie's
Blandy's--Vintage 1792
Details
Blandy's--Vintage 1792
Bottled in 1840
Contemporary early to mid 19th century three-part moulded bottle. Wax seal. Original 'bottle ticket' (label) bin-soiled, scraped but legible. Level: upper-mid-shouder
This bottle is extremely rare
1792 was an excellent vintage but what makes this particular wine of great historic interest is that it is from a pipe taken by Napoleon to his final exile in Saint-Helena. On 7 August 1815, H.M.S. Northumberland was anchored off Funchal to take on supplies of fruit. The only person allowed on board was the H.M. Consul, Henry Veitch, who persuaded the deposed Emperor to take a 'pipe' of the best Madeira.
Napoleon suffered from a gastric complaint and was not allowed to drink the wine. When he died in 1820 the pipe was unbroached. Mr. Veitch had paid the supplier in Madeira but had not been repaid although Napoleon had thanked him by giving him some Louis d'Or. The Consul claimed the wine, which was shipped back in 1822 and sold to Charles Blandy. Some, it is believed, was used as the basis for Blandy's famous 1792 Solera but some was bottled by Charles' son, John Blandy, in 1840. A few bottles were later acquired by Dr. Grabham, a great connoisseur of fine madeiras. This bottle was originally in the Grabham collection. 1 bottle per lot
Bottled in 1840
Contemporary early to mid 19th century three-part moulded bottle. Wax seal. Original 'bottle ticket' (label) bin-soiled, scraped but legible. Level: upper-mid-shouder
This bottle is extremely rare
1792 was an excellent vintage but what makes this particular wine of great historic interest is that it is from a pipe taken by Napoleon to his final exile in Saint-Helena. On 7 August 1815, H.M.S. Northumberland was anchored off Funchal to take on supplies of fruit. The only person allowed on board was the H.M. Consul, Henry Veitch, who persuaded the deposed Emperor to take a 'pipe' of the best Madeira.
Napoleon suffered from a gastric complaint and was not allowed to drink the wine. When he died in 1820 the pipe was unbroached. Mr. Veitch had paid the supplier in Madeira but had not been repaid although Napoleon had thanked him by giving him some Louis d'Or. The Consul claimed the wine, which was shipped back in 1822 and sold to Charles Blandy. Some, it is believed, was used as the basis for Blandy's famous 1792 Solera but some was bottled by Charles' son, John Blandy, in 1840. A few bottles were later acquired by Dr. Grabham, a great connoisseur of fine madeiras. This bottle was originally in the Grabham collection. 1 bottle per lot
Further details
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