1 bottle per lot
Details
COGNAC AND OTHER SPIRITS FROM THE EXTRAORDINARY PRIVATE CELLAR OF DORIS DUKE
Sold to Benefit the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
The private cellar of Doris Duke is without question one of the most superlative collections of Fine and Rare Wines to come to market in the nearly forty years of dedicated Fine Wine auctions at Christie's. This incredible cellar was sold at Christie's in New York in a special evening sale on June 4th, 2004.
The cellar highlights a period of wine-making and vintages whose like will never be repeated and is a true "time capsule" of bottlings spanning 1904 to 1934 and encompassing the great châteaux and domaines of France from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne as well as ports and madeiras.
During the cataloguing of this collection we also found a number of fine cognacs and other spirits that, due to the law in New York, have been brought to London for auction to be included in this sale of Fine and Rare Wines.
These lots were removed from two of Doris Duke's former homes; at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, New Jersey and Shangri La, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Duke Farms
Built by James Buchanan Duke, Doris Duke's father at the turn of the twentieth century, the estate amounts to some 2700 acres and is amongst the state's largest privately owned estates.
The cellar in the basement of the original part of the main house was originally designed as a storage room with sealed door and was converted into the wine cellar during the 1930s. It is understood that refrigeration was installed during the second half of the 1930s.
Shangri La
The Honolulu home of Doris Duke was commissioned by her and built from 1936 to 1938 on a five-acre waterfront property.
The cellar was part of the original house and it is believed that refrigeration was installed at the outset, witnessed by the presence of the original compressor (now unused) at the property.
Many of the bottles have slip labels from the "Island Wine Company, Territory of Hawaii" and appear to have been shipped directly there.
Wines that were removed from Miss Duke's Hawaii home, Shangri La have been indicated in the catalogue.
The exceptional spirits in this collection are matched only by their impeccable provenance.
Richard Brierley
Head of North American Wine Sales
April 2004
Lying in Twickenham, Middlesex (EHD)
Offered duty-paid, but available in bond
Lots 538 to 577
Grande Fine Réserve Cognac--1811
Metal capsules embossed "EPH".Very bin-soiled remains of labels. 19th century glass. Lots 538 and 539 levels 3.5cms, lot 540 level 4.5cms and lot 541 level 5cms below base of capsules
1 bottle per lot
Sold to Benefit the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation
The private cellar of Doris Duke is without question one of the most superlative collections of Fine and Rare Wines to come to market in the nearly forty years of dedicated Fine Wine auctions at Christie's. This incredible cellar was sold at Christie's in New York in a special evening sale on June 4th, 2004.
The cellar highlights a period of wine-making and vintages whose like will never be repeated and is a true "time capsule" of bottlings spanning 1904 to 1934 and encompassing the great châteaux and domaines of France from Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne as well as ports and madeiras.
During the cataloguing of this collection we also found a number of fine cognacs and other spirits that, due to the law in New York, have been brought to London for auction to be included in this sale of Fine and Rare Wines.
These lots were removed from two of Doris Duke's former homes; at Duke Farms in Hillsborough, New Jersey and Shangri La, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Duke Farms
Built by James Buchanan Duke, Doris Duke's father at the turn of the twentieth century, the estate amounts to some 2700 acres and is amongst the state's largest privately owned estates.
The cellar in the basement of the original part of the main house was originally designed as a storage room with sealed door and was converted into the wine cellar during the 1930s. It is understood that refrigeration was installed during the second half of the 1930s.
Shangri La
The Honolulu home of Doris Duke was commissioned by her and built from 1936 to 1938 on a five-acre waterfront property.
The cellar was part of the original house and it is believed that refrigeration was installed at the outset, witnessed by the presence of the original compressor (now unused) at the property.
Many of the bottles have slip labels from the "Island Wine Company, Territory of Hawaii" and appear to have been shipped directly there.
Wines that were removed from Miss Duke's Hawaii home, Shangri La have been indicated in the catalogue.
The exceptional spirits in this collection are matched only by their impeccable provenance.
Richard Brierley
Head of North American Wine Sales
April 2004
Lying in Twickenham, Middlesex (EHD)
Offered duty-paid, but available in bond
Lots 538 to 577
Grande Fine Réserve Cognac--1811
Metal capsules embossed "EPH".Very bin-soiled remains of labels. 19th century glass. Lots 538 and 539 levels 3.5cms, lot 540 level 4.5cms and lot 541 level 5cms below base of capsules
1 bottle per lot
Special notice
ParcelWineOffered duty paid, but available in bond