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5 bottles per lot
細節
GENERATIONS OF JAYER - BURGUNDY FROM THE HISTORIC CELLARS OF KING'S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
There are some wine collections that exist in a realm of their own, where the history, quality and fascinating provenance come together to create something exceptional. A collection of Henri Jayer and Emmanuel Rouget wines that have been removed directly from the deep, cool cellars of King’s College, Cambridge, and have only moved from producer to importer, to college cellar, is certainly one of these collections.
Christie's Wine & Spirits Department are delighted to present these magnificent Burgundies as a highlight of our Luxury week auctions this June in London. King’s College has a notable history of wine collecting, with the wine cellars of the college almost as legendary as the college itself.
The wine collection of King’s College is multifarious in nature, but one characteristic is consistent across all sections – quality. Over the course of the 20th century, there have only been four guardians of this vinous treasure trove, and each has clearly treated the cultivation of the cellar as one of their life’s works.
Peter de Bolla, Professor of Cultural History and Aesthetics at King’s, who has also worked as Wine Steward for the college since 1993, suggests these might be “the most sublime, complete examples of Pinot Noir that the college has ever cellared”.
These are, as any collector of Burgundy knows, some of the rarest and most sought-after wines on earth. Henri Jayer is no longer with us, but his legacy and his impact on winemaking in Burgundy, and indeed across the world is indisputable, and his nephew, Emmanuel Rouget has carried on making wines in the same vein as his uncle.
These bottles have absolutely perfect provenance, and as such, are likely to be some of the greatest examples of these magical wines that a collector could hope to find today. The bottles are almost all offered in their original cartons, and were purchased by King’s College, Cambridge, directly from the UK importer for these wines at the time, Richards-Walford. The wines were stored in perfect temperature and humidity controlled cellars from the moment they arrived at King’s, until they were transferred into Christie’s own purpose-built professional storage.
For those who are drawn to the appeal of Pinot Noir in its most compelling, timeless forms, this will be a thrilling moment.
Noah May, Head of Department, Wine and Spirits, Christie's
"For the last twenty-nine years I have acted as the Wine Steward for King’s College, overseeing every aspect of the wine cellar, from purchasing to curating the historic collection. There have only been four wine stewards since the early twentieth century and I will have been in the role for longer than any of my predecessors, so the shape and range of the wines in the cellar is now very much of my own making. When I took over, I was fortunate to continue a relationship with Roy Richards, of the wine importer Richards Walford, that my predecessor had begun, and I immediately asked him if the college might be able to secure an allocation of the wines of Henri Jayer, who at that time was very close to retirement. Luckily we were able to purchase some of the last vintages he made, and then continue with the wines made by his nephew Emmanuel Rouget. These wines are perhaps the most sublime, complete examples of pinot noir that have been cellared by the college. They have a finesse and precision that is awe inspiring, with the lush textures of pinot at its finest. It will, of course, be sad to see these amazing wines leave the cellar, but the long-term good management of a serious collection must involve saying goodbye to old friends so as to be able to welcome new ones. There is some compensation, however, as it gives me pleasure to think that the sale of these wines will provide enormous pleasure for their new collectors."
Professor Peter de Bolla
"I have fond memories of the buttery at King’s, where Mr Brownstone, the college butler, held sway and the more solvent students bought their wine. It’s painful to even think of the prices we paid. Sixty years ago Château Lafite 1949 was 25 shillings (call it £225 in today’s money - still a bargain). Mere undergraduates were content with Lynch-Bages at 12⁄6. But I can assure you the wines were not wasted.
Meanwhile the college has been squirrelling away its rare allocations of the wines the dons aspire to, irreplaceable burgundies they would blush to be seen drinking these days. The wines of Emmanuel Rouget, inheritor of Henri Jayer’s Vosne-Romanée vines, hardly need an introduction. They are the crown jewels, laid down from their arrival in England in the perfect cellars at King’s. The dons’ loss is our gain."
Hugh Johnson OBE remembering his time at Cambridge
All bottles have special auction stickers commemorating this sale
THE GREAT WINES OF HENRI JAYER
Henri Jayer for Georges Jayer, Echézeaux 1996
Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits
Nicked labels. One torn label. Levels: three 0.5cm, one 1cm and one 1.5cm
5 bottles per lot
There are some wine collections that exist in a realm of their own, where the history, quality and fascinating provenance come together to create something exceptional. A collection of Henri Jayer and Emmanuel Rouget wines that have been removed directly from the deep, cool cellars of King’s College, Cambridge, and have only moved from producer to importer, to college cellar, is certainly one of these collections.
Christie's Wine & Spirits Department are delighted to present these magnificent Burgundies as a highlight of our Luxury week auctions this June in London. King’s College has a notable history of wine collecting, with the wine cellars of the college almost as legendary as the college itself.
The wine collection of King’s College is multifarious in nature, but one characteristic is consistent across all sections – quality. Over the course of the 20th century, there have only been four guardians of this vinous treasure trove, and each has clearly treated the cultivation of the cellar as one of their life’s works.
Peter de Bolla, Professor of Cultural History and Aesthetics at King’s, who has also worked as Wine Steward for the college since 1993, suggests these might be “the most sublime, complete examples of Pinot Noir that the college has ever cellared”.
These are, as any collector of Burgundy knows, some of the rarest and most sought-after wines on earth. Henri Jayer is no longer with us, but his legacy and his impact on winemaking in Burgundy, and indeed across the world is indisputable, and his nephew, Emmanuel Rouget has carried on making wines in the same vein as his uncle.
These bottles have absolutely perfect provenance, and as such, are likely to be some of the greatest examples of these magical wines that a collector could hope to find today. The bottles are almost all offered in their original cartons, and were purchased by King’s College, Cambridge, directly from the UK importer for these wines at the time, Richards-Walford. The wines were stored in perfect temperature and humidity controlled cellars from the moment they arrived at King’s, until they were transferred into Christie’s own purpose-built professional storage.
For those who are drawn to the appeal of Pinot Noir in its most compelling, timeless forms, this will be a thrilling moment.
Noah May, Head of Department, Wine and Spirits, Christie's
"For the last twenty-nine years I have acted as the Wine Steward for King’s College, overseeing every aspect of the wine cellar, from purchasing to curating the historic collection. There have only been four wine stewards since the early twentieth century and I will have been in the role for longer than any of my predecessors, so the shape and range of the wines in the cellar is now very much of my own making. When I took over, I was fortunate to continue a relationship with Roy Richards, of the wine importer Richards Walford, that my predecessor had begun, and I immediately asked him if the college might be able to secure an allocation of the wines of Henri Jayer, who at that time was very close to retirement. Luckily we were able to purchase some of the last vintages he made, and then continue with the wines made by his nephew Emmanuel Rouget. These wines are perhaps the most sublime, complete examples of pinot noir that have been cellared by the college. They have a finesse and precision that is awe inspiring, with the lush textures of pinot at its finest. It will, of course, be sad to see these amazing wines leave the cellar, but the long-term good management of a serious collection must involve saying goodbye to old friends so as to be able to welcome new ones. There is some compensation, however, as it gives me pleasure to think that the sale of these wines will provide enormous pleasure for their new collectors."
Professor Peter de Bolla
"I have fond memories of the buttery at King’s, where Mr Brownstone, the college butler, held sway and the more solvent students bought their wine. It’s painful to even think of the prices we paid. Sixty years ago Château Lafite 1949 was 25 shillings (call it £225 in today’s money - still a bargain). Mere undergraduates were content with Lynch-Bages at 12⁄6. But I can assure you the wines were not wasted.
Meanwhile the college has been squirrelling away its rare allocations of the wines the dons aspire to, irreplaceable burgundies they would blush to be seen drinking these days. The wines of Emmanuel Rouget, inheritor of Henri Jayer’s Vosne-Romanée vines, hardly need an introduction. They are the crown jewels, laid down from their arrival in England in the perfect cellars at King’s. The dons’ loss is our gain."
Hugh Johnson OBE remembering his time at Cambridge
All bottles have special auction stickers commemorating this sale
THE GREAT WINES OF HENRI JAYER
Henri Jayer for Georges Jayer, Echézeaux 1996
Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits
Nicked labels. One torn label. Levels: three 0.5cm, one 1cm and one 1.5cm
5 bottles per lot
榮譽呈獻
Noah May
Head of Wine and Spirits EMEA