1 dozen bottles per lot
Details
Mähler-Besse
In Hoc Signo Vinces
Fondé en 1892
Mähler-Besse is a fourth generation family company, created in 1892 by Frédérik Mähler.
When he was young, Frédérik's godfather, who was major banker in Amsterdam, sent him to Bordeaux to learn about the business. As soon as he arrived, in he fell in love with wine.
After a few years he decided to set up his own company and specialise in top end claret. That was when our fine wine old vintages cellar was created. Since then, four generations of the Mähler-Besse family have carefully selected year after year the finest wines of every vintage.
We have decided to release, especially for Christie's, some of our finest rarities from our cellars. These wines have never moved since they were purchased "En Primeur" by the previous generations.
The majority of these wines are no longer available on the market; we wanted to let you make the most of these exceptional and rare wines.
We are sure that you will note the Château Mouton Rothschild 1945, Château Palmer 1961, Château Haut-Brion 1959. which are recognised to be amongst the most incredible wines ever produced. However do not overlook wines like Château Haut-Brion 1958, Château Latour 1943 and Château Palmer 1988 for example, which are a "tour de force" in winemaking for these years.
We hope that you will have the chance to take back with you a piece of history from the Mähler-Besse wine cellar.
(By Franck MÄHLER-BESSE Ferdinand MÄHLER-BESSE)
A SPECIALIST'S VIEW
by Richard Brierley and Charles Antin
Mähler-Besse is one of the very few wine merchants in Bordeaux that still maintain their vast, hundred-year-old wine cellars. The bottles in this sale represent only a small portion of the valuable cache of wines that sleep, untouched, in the dark caverns under the Quartier des Chartrons.
There are numerous factors that make this sale unique. The first and most important is provenance. Each bottle in this sale was acquired on release and has been resting quietly in complete darkness, in perfect temperature and humidity conditions of the cellars of Mähler-Besse, until it was removed for this sale. We have gone to great lengths and expense to ensure that every case of wine was stored in a temperature controlled environment at every step of its journey.
The second factor is the fascinating array of wines. All of left bank Bordeaux (with a smattering of St.-Emilion and Graves) is represented here, from the unclassified wines (that often do not deserve to be ignored) to all of the First Growths. How often does one get the opportunity to try 1937 Château Talbot with impeccable provenance? First Growth horizontals from 1949 and 1945? Château Palmer in regular bottles and large format in just about every vintage desirable? Almost never. The oldest vintage offered in this sale is from 1922.
It is fascinating to think of the changes the world has seen while these bottles sat, untouched and undisturbed, in the dark, quiet cellars of Mähler-Besse. The United States has seen 15 presidents, two World Wars, the invention of the television, penicillin, bubble gum, airplanes and helicopters, cell phones, to name a few.
To understand the complexity of this offering, it is important also to understand the history of Mähler-Besse. In 1892, Frédérik Mähler left the Netherlands and established himself in the world of Bordeaux wine. He married Marguerite Besse in 1905 and soon expanded his company to an international audience. In 1928, Frédérik's son Henry joined the business and together they became major shareholders of Château Palmer in Margaux in 1938. After World War II, Frédérik stepped down so that Henry could continue the management of the company. Under Henry's management Mähler-Besse grew and prospered. Henry became the Dutch Consul in Bordeaux, an office that he later passed to his son Franck. Franck Mähler-Besse, the third generation of management, officially joined the company in 1971, and the company remains under his leadership today, joined by his sons.
In sum, these 85 lots present a rare and unique opportunity not often seen in the wine auction market. All of the legendary vintages are here, the '28s, the '45s, the '49s, the '82s and the '89s. But what's perhaps most interesting are the vintages that one does not frequently see on the auction market: the '34s, the '24s, for example. Too often wines of this age have suffered with age; in this case, the provenance is beyond comparison.
Some wines have been recorked at the Château and these have been noted in the cataloguing. This process is performed based on the needs of each wine. Conditions for each wine are exceptional because of the unique provenance afforded us here. Only the best levels were chosen for sale.
A full list of conditons for each case is available by contacting the department at 212 636 2270 or by emailing wine@christies.com.
******NEW PAGE***********
Pauillac
If Bordeaux were a crown, Pauillac would be the crown jewel. Most famously, three of the five first growths (Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Mouton-Rothschild and Château Latour) reside in this commune, but the sheer number of classic châteaux is staggering. Châteaux Pichon Lalande, Pichon Baron, and Lynch Bages, just to name a few. All of these wines share a Bordeaux typicity which, if one had to generalize, would include subtlety, vigor, cedar, and an understated fruitiness. The gravel mounds (from which Lafite, for example, gets its name) are numerous and elevated in Pauillac. Here, Cabernet Sauvignon is king. The wines of the left bank have long had a reputation as wines that need decades of bottle age to approach drinkability. This reputation is thanks, in part, to the tannins in the Cabernet Sauvignon, vinified intentionally to create vin de garde with enormous backbone and complexity. Straight from the cellars of Mähler-Besse come representatives of the greatest châteaux of Pauillac, from all of the greatest vintages. CA
Château Latour
La Tour de Ségur, as it was known at the end of the 18th Century has a very long and distinguished history. It's famous tower and vineyards are in full view - albeit at some distance - from the ships plying the broad Gironde and are close to the small town of Pauillac. It's recent history, but not the quality of the wine, has been a bit chequered, the de Beaumont Family selling in 1962 its majority stake, to Lord Cowdray's family and Harvey's of Bristol who considerably later sold to Allied Domecq. It's current proud owner is Mr. Francois Pinault who also, coincidentally, now owns Christie's. MB
Château Latour--Vintage 1943
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
In original wooden case
"I have just looked up my original note, made in April 1954 when I was at Saccone's:'full' (appearance) 'unspectacular at first, but laden with overtones' (the nose), a 'trifle hard and might not improve much. Peculiar but fruity and super taste'. A 'strapping' (strong, burly) note in the mid-1960s and, by the 1970s, changing colour, to paler but lovely autumnal red. I thought its bouquet was as good as the '45, beautifully developed, 'delicate but concentrated'. Rich, crisp and flavoury but lacking length." Last tasted July 1981. At best **** Should still be good MB, Vintage Wine
1 dozen bottles per lot
In Hoc Signo Vinces
Fondé en 1892
Mähler-Besse is a fourth generation family company, created in 1892 by Frédérik Mähler.
When he was young, Frédérik's godfather, who was major banker in Amsterdam, sent him to Bordeaux to learn about the business. As soon as he arrived, in he fell in love with wine.
After a few years he decided to set up his own company and specialise in top end claret. That was when our fine wine old vintages cellar was created. Since then, four generations of the Mähler-Besse family have carefully selected year after year the finest wines of every vintage.
We have decided to release, especially for Christie's, some of our finest rarities from our cellars. These wines have never moved since they were purchased "En Primeur" by the previous generations.
The majority of these wines are no longer available on the market; we wanted to let you make the most of these exceptional and rare wines.
We are sure that you will note the Château Mouton Rothschild 1945, Château Palmer 1961, Château Haut-Brion 1959. which are recognised to be amongst the most incredible wines ever produced. However do not overlook wines like Château Haut-Brion 1958, Château Latour 1943 and Château Palmer 1988 for example, which are a "tour de force" in winemaking for these years.
We hope that you will have the chance to take back with you a piece of history from the Mähler-Besse wine cellar.
(By Franck MÄHLER-BESSE Ferdinand MÄHLER-BESSE)
A SPECIALIST'S VIEW
by Richard Brierley and Charles Antin
Mähler-Besse is one of the very few wine merchants in Bordeaux that still maintain their vast, hundred-year-old wine cellars. The bottles in this sale represent only a small portion of the valuable cache of wines that sleep, untouched, in the dark caverns under the Quartier des Chartrons.
There are numerous factors that make this sale unique. The first and most important is provenance. Each bottle in this sale was acquired on release and has been resting quietly in complete darkness, in perfect temperature and humidity conditions of the cellars of Mähler-Besse, until it was removed for this sale. We have gone to great lengths and expense to ensure that every case of wine was stored in a temperature controlled environment at every step of its journey.
The second factor is the fascinating array of wines. All of left bank Bordeaux (with a smattering of St.-Emilion and Graves) is represented here, from the unclassified wines (that often do not deserve to be ignored) to all of the First Growths. How often does one get the opportunity to try 1937 Château Talbot with impeccable provenance? First Growth horizontals from 1949 and 1945? Château Palmer in regular bottles and large format in just about every vintage desirable? Almost never. The oldest vintage offered in this sale is from 1922.
It is fascinating to think of the changes the world has seen while these bottles sat, untouched and undisturbed, in the dark, quiet cellars of Mähler-Besse. The United States has seen 15 presidents, two World Wars, the invention of the television, penicillin, bubble gum, airplanes and helicopters, cell phones, to name a few.
To understand the complexity of this offering, it is important also to understand the history of Mähler-Besse. In 1892, Frédérik Mähler left the Netherlands and established himself in the world of Bordeaux wine. He married Marguerite Besse in 1905 and soon expanded his company to an international audience. In 1928, Frédérik's son Henry joined the business and together they became major shareholders of Château Palmer in Margaux in 1938. After World War II, Frédérik stepped down so that Henry could continue the management of the company. Under Henry's management Mähler-Besse grew and prospered. Henry became the Dutch Consul in Bordeaux, an office that he later passed to his son Franck. Franck Mähler-Besse, the third generation of management, officially joined the company in 1971, and the company remains under his leadership today, joined by his sons.
In sum, these 85 lots present a rare and unique opportunity not often seen in the wine auction market. All of the legendary vintages are here, the '28s, the '45s, the '49s, the '82s and the '89s. But what's perhaps most interesting are the vintages that one does not frequently see on the auction market: the '34s, the '24s, for example. Too often wines of this age have suffered with age; in this case, the provenance is beyond comparison.
Some wines have been recorked at the Château and these have been noted in the cataloguing. This process is performed based on the needs of each wine. Conditions for each wine are exceptional because of the unique provenance afforded us here. Only the best levels were chosen for sale.
A full list of conditons for each case is available by contacting the department at 212 636 2270 or by emailing wine@christies.com.
******NEW PAGE***********
Pauillac
If Bordeaux were a crown, Pauillac would be the crown jewel. Most famously, three of the five first growths (Château Lafite-Rothschild, Château Mouton-Rothschild and Château Latour) reside in this commune, but the sheer number of classic châteaux is staggering. Châteaux Pichon Lalande, Pichon Baron, and Lynch Bages, just to name a few. All of these wines share a Bordeaux typicity which, if one had to generalize, would include subtlety, vigor, cedar, and an understated fruitiness. The gravel mounds (from which Lafite, for example, gets its name) are numerous and elevated in Pauillac. Here, Cabernet Sauvignon is king. The wines of the left bank have long had a reputation as wines that need decades of bottle age to approach drinkability. This reputation is thanks, in part, to the tannins in the Cabernet Sauvignon, vinified intentionally to create vin de garde with enormous backbone and complexity. Straight from the cellars of Mähler-Besse come representatives of the greatest châteaux of Pauillac, from all of the greatest vintages. CA
Château Latour
La Tour de Ségur, as it was known at the end of the 18th Century has a very long and distinguished history. It's famous tower and vineyards are in full view - albeit at some distance - from the ships plying the broad Gironde and are close to the small town of Pauillac. It's recent history, but not the quality of the wine, has been a bit chequered, the de Beaumont Family selling in 1962 its majority stake, to Lord Cowdray's family and Harvey's of Bristol who considerably later sold to Allied Domecq. It's current proud owner is Mr. Francois Pinault who also, coincidentally, now owns Christie's. MB
Château Latour--Vintage 1943
Pauillac, 1er cru classé
In original wooden case
"I have just looked up my original note, made in April 1954 when I was at Saccone's:'full' (appearance) 'unspectacular at first, but laden with overtones' (the nose), a 'trifle hard and might not improve much. Peculiar but fruity and super taste'. A 'strapping' (strong, burly) note in the mid-1960s and, by the 1970s, changing colour, to paler but lovely autumnal red. I thought its bouquet was as good as the '45, beautifully developed, 'delicate but concentrated'. Rich, crisp and flavoury but lacking length." Last tasted July 1981. At best **** Should still be good MB, Vintage Wine
1 dozen bottles per lot