Château Lafite--Vintage 1934

A MAGNIFICENT CELLAR OF CLARET, VINTAGES 1934 TO 1979 The Property of the Late Yul Brynner Recently shipped from the perfect temperature and humidity-controlled cellars in the manor house near Deauville in Normandy where Mr. Brynner spent much of his time. Lots marked are offered duty-paid, but available in bond. Lots marked are offered duty-paid only and are lying at Christie's Yul Brynner, born in 1920 of Swiss-Mongolian parentage, had one of the most distinctive faces in the world of stage and film of which he was such a distinguished part from the 1950s to the 1970s. His immediately recognisable bald head, sharp features and powerful build became well-known to millions through his portrayal of the King of Siam in the hugely successful Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, The King & I. Brynner's reputation and career were inextricably linked with this character (originally intended for Rex Harrison who, fortunately for Brynner, was not available) which he originally played against Gertrude Lawrence, and against Deborah Carr in the film version (1956). It won him an Oscar in 1957, and it has been estimated that he played the rôle almost 4,500 times over a period of thirty-five years. His film career spanned from 1949 (aged 29, having expressed an ambition in his early teens to be a film star by the time he was 30) to 1976 and comprised some forty films. The best-known amongst these included The King & I and The Ten Commandments (both 1956), The Brothers Karamazov (1958), The Magnificent Seven (1960) and Return of The Seven (1966). This most impressive collection of wine appears to have been built up around the apogee of his career concentrating as it does (with the obvious exception of the Château Lafite 1934), on vintages from 1959 to 1979. It is self-evident that he was both knowledgeable and well-advised, and by all accounts took the subject of his cellar extremely seriously. His buying appears to have taken place wherever he happened to be at the time. The magnums of 1934, for example, have remains of State of Virginia tax stamps, whilst other bottles bear merchant labels from Harvey's of Bristol (Château Latour 1962), The Wine Society (Château La Mission-Haut-Brion 1964) and Berry Bros & Rudd (Château Latour 1966). He was also a regular buyer at auction. The substantial quantities of the younger wines were purchased directly through one of Bordeaux's most reputable négociants. It is interesting to note two comments made by Rock Brynner in his biography of his father (Yul - The Man Who Would Be King, Collins, 1989) :- "The six days that he performed (The King & I), each and every week, he drank no alcohol until after the performance, and then he drank only fine wine - very fine wine" and "...the kitchen had to be stocked with items from a supplied shopping list, including...Château Gruaud-Larose '66" (see lots 38 to 40). Further quantities from the cellar will be offered on 10th December

細節

Château Lafite--Vintage 1934
Pauillac, 1er cru classé. Château-bottled
Excellent labels. Levels: lot 1: excellent, into neck. Lot 2: top-shoulder. Lot 3: upper/top-shoulder. Lot 4: one upper/top, two mid-shoulder
1 magnum per lot