London ‘Vine’ Sale – By Sotheby´s

Sassicaia Direct from the Cellars of Tenuta San Guido & Wines Donated in Support of Rugby School’s Arnold Foundation

LONDON, June 2021: Now open for bidding, Vine | Sassicaia Direct from Tenuta San Guido | The Arnold Foundation for Rugby School | Finest & Rarest Winesis the final sale to be presented by Sotheby’s Wine in London before the close of the summer season. Estimated to bring in excess of £800,000, the sale is divided into three parts, each presenting a refreshing and exciting mix of the world’s finest and rarest wines, as well as a selection of exceptional and unique wine experiences. The online bidding will culminate in a live auction at Sotheby’s New Bond Street on 2 July.

The auction begins with a direct offering of Sassicaia from the cellars of its home estate, Tenuta San Guido, in celebration of the wine’s 50th anniversary on the market this year. Next up is Rugby School’s consignment to benefit The Arnold Foundation, donated for sale by their generous benefactors in order to raise funds in support of their Fast Forward 50 campaign, which will raise another £25 million to ensure that the school can continue to offer fully-funded boarding places for 40 talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds every year. Following this, the auction continues with Finest & Rarest Wines, which represents a handful of leading British and European private collections.

George Lacey, Head of Auction Sales, UK, Sotheby’s Wine, said:

“Two significant anniversaries are celebrated in this auction, and it has been a pleasure to work with the Incisa della Rocchetta family to celebrate Sassicaia’s 50th2 anniversary, as well as with the team from Rugby School to build a suitable tribute to celebrate The Arnold Foundation’s 18th birthday. With pristine, perfectly mature stocks of the world’s greatest wines on show throughout all three segments of the sale, there is something to please every palate in this extensive auction.Not only do Sassicaia and Rugby School’s segments offer some outstanding wines, but also a selection of superb experience lots that will offer the lucky winning bidders some of the greatest wine experiences to be found – a very exciting prospect to look forward to, as the world slowly begins to return to something resembling normality.”

Sassicaia Wine Group
Tenuta San Guido
© Courtesy: Sotheby´s

Celebrating 50 Years: Sassicaia Direct from Tenuta San Guido[Lots 1-6]

A stellar selection of six lots direct from the makers of Sassicaia, Tenuta San Guido – home to the Incisa della Rocchetta family and of this original “Super Tuscan” – marks a special celebration of the 50th anniversary of Sassicaia’s first ever release to the market. The six large-formats to be offered – the historic 1985 in magnum and 1988 in double-magnum, the superb 1997 in imperial and 1999 in magnum, as well as the modern greats of 2013 and 2018 in imperial and double-magnum respectively – have been consigned especially by the estate to celebrate the anniversary for the family and Sassicaia. The 3-litre bottle of the 2018 vintage comes with a Tour, Tasting & Lunch for up to four people at Tenuta San Guido, Sassicaia’s home.

HIGHLIGHTS

Sassicaia 1985, 1 magnum, est. £3,500-5,000 [lot 1]

Sassicaia plus a Private Tour, Tasting and Lunch at Tenuta San Guido 2018, 1 double magnum, est. £1,200-2,400 [lot 6]

In Support of Rugby School’s Arnold Foundation.
© Courtesy: Sotheby´s

In Support of Rugby School’s Arnold Foundation [Lots 7-68]

The second segment of the sale is dedicated to raising funds in support of Rugby School’s Arnold Foundation, which celebrates its 18th birthday this year. Now recognised as one of the leading school bursary programmes in the country, the Arnold Foundation was revolutionary at the time of its establishment. Thanks to the tireless work of the Foundation’s community, and the generosity of its donors, countless talented young pupils have so far benefitted from fully funded boarded places at the School. As the Foundation marks this milestone, the School aims to build on its success through the Fast Forward 50 campaign, which will raise another £25 million to ensure that the school can continue to offer this opportunity for 40 students every year.

The Foundation’s generous supporters have consigned an outstanding selection of wines and experiences to raise funds for the programme, including perfectly stored mature First Growths; outstanding Super Seconds; Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey’s rare Chevalier Montrachet; and a selection of Champagne’s greatest Prestige Cuvees. Beyond these classics, there are some esoteric gems; centuries-old Madeira and Cognac rubs shoulders with vintage Ports, next to mature Penfold’s Grange and some Italian superstars.

The experiences include a private dinner with wine legend Hugh Johnson OBE, an exclusive VIP tour and tasting hosted by Saskia de Rothschild at her family’s estate, Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, and an opportunity to dine with Lizzy Rudd in the private General Office Dining Room at Berry Bros. & Rudd, over a selection of wines chosen from the merchant’s Family Reserves. Further lots include tours of Hungary’s Royal Tokaji, Portugal’s Symington Family Estatesand Pomerol’s Chateau Seraphine.

HIGHLIGHTS

Mouton Rothschild 1982, 12 bottles, est. £9,000-12,000 [lot 146]

Petrus 1990, 6 bottles, est. £14,000-18,000 [lot 163]

Chablis, Les Clos 2007 Domaine Raveneau, 12 bottles, est. £6,000-8,500 [lot 224]

Clos de Vougeot 1998 Domaine Leroy, 12 bottles, est. £22,000-28,000 [lot 394]

Bordeaux Wine group
© Courtesy: Sotheby´s

Finest & Rarest Wines [Lots 69-762]

Following Rugby School’s consignment is a series of classic collections, sourced from some of Europe and the UK’s deepest private cellars. The roll call of wine royalty includes Bordeaux’s greatest names from both the Left and Right banks; blue-chip White Burgundy; pristine Pinot from the likes of Domaines Leroy, Roumier, Comte de Vogüé and DRC; and mature stocks from the most historic estates of Champagne and Italy.