Auction Fever

Wine auctions seem seem to be everywhere in Paris this late spring. Are collectors selling their caves to pay for summer vacation? Unlikely, but savy sellers know wine has a shelf life and with the cash crunch coming in France, prices will only go lower this year.

Luckily, with few exceptions, we've avoided the fever although how we did today is unknown. At a sale titled 2000 Petrus, Les 2000 de Monsieur J.S. (delicious title, no?), we watched the collected bottles of Grand Cru Bordeaux 2000, and a few others, sell for equally 'delicious' prices. The closing lots were mixed cases of 12 bottles described as "Prestige Bordeaux Primeurs" from 2000 in their original wood cases - 3 Chateau Latour 1er Grand Cru Classe Pauillac, 3 Chateau Margaux 1er Grand Cru Classe Margaux, 3 Chateau Haut-Brion 1er Grand Cru Classe Graves and 3 Petrus Pomerol which sold for over 11,000 euros; at todays exchange $13,750 plus the auction premium!
Yummy!

Altough we left this evening empty-handed, we did succumb to a few oldies but goodies last week. We picked up 12 bottles of Chateau La Croix Ferrandat, St-Emilion 1998; 4 bottles of Chateau du Maine, Graves 1988; and 8 bottles of Chateau Grand Baril, Montagne St-Emilion 1988. Admittedly, these sound old to the many American drinkers but Bordeaux with its mix of 3 cepages has the ability to age into a lovely wine if well stored. They should be experienced. We would enjoy to share these with friends. Contact us if you've interest!

Bottoms up!