Brightwells Wine Auction

When many people think of auctions, they imagine live sales that take place in rooms filled with bidders and an auctioneer in a suit. But online auctions also exist and can be just as exciting (and more affordable).

The atomic unit of an auction is the lot, which contains one or more bottles. Lots generally ratchet up in pre-determined price steps until they are sold or passed.

Fine Wines

The hammer fell at a full saleroom on Wednesday evening (6 December) on a superb catalogue offering classic French wines, Vintage Port and a large section of Malt Whisky. Highlights included a rare case of Richebourg 1969 from Domaine Romanee Conti selling for PS6,000 and an 8 bottle lot of Chateau Haut Brion 1985 that sold for PS2,250.

Ahead of Christmas Cheffins in Cambridge will be auctioning a selection of fine wines that would make an ideal gift or to enjoy on the big day itself. The highlight of the wine sale will be a bottle of The Macallan 50-year old anniversary malt whisky, distilled in 1928 and bottled in 1983 (PS2,000-PS2,500).

Provincial auctioneers are also keen to take odd bottles of wine that are not grand enough for the bigger London auction houses to sell, and which often remain unopened in their original wooden cases (marked ‘owc’ in the catalogue). Brightwells of Leominster have a lively wine department.

Vintage Port

There were over 70 lots of Vintage Port offered in this sale with a number of notable prices achieved. One ten bottle lot of Dujac Clos La Roche 1980 sold for PS6,000 and another a twelve bottle lot of Taylor’s 1977 fetched PS720. The auction was well attended by buyers, merchants and restaurateurs both in the Leominster sale room and those bidding via telephone and internet.

Private collections from Shropshire, London, the Midlands and Edinburgh will feature in this sale which will also be offering fine Champagne, Malt Whisky and Cognac. A good selection of Red Bordeaux will also be on offer and there is a strong offering from Australia.

Brightwells operates as an international business providing auction and estate agency services, including vehicles, classic cars, plant & machinery; fine wine, champagne and spirits; and chartered surveying, principally in the UK but serving clients worldwide. The company also offers professional consultancy advice to land and property owners.

Whisky

A stunning collection of 12 consecutive vintage bottles of Chateau d’Yquem will form the centrepiece of a fine wine sale at Brightwells auctioneers in Leominster on February 17. This impressive collection is expected to achieve in excess of PS3,000.

The sale also includes a large offering of fine French wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhone valley along with a selection of classic Ports and Champagnes and a good section of Malt Whisky. This includes a bottle of the rare 50-year old Macallan which is a very special piece and has been kept in its original case by the vendor since it was given to him for his 50th birthday. He vowed to open it every year but could never bring himself to do so.

This sale marks the first time that Brightwells has offered a French wine sale in bond and they expect keen prices for this superb offering of Bordeaux, Burgundy and Rhone vintages from private collections from Shropshire, London, Staffordshire and Edinburgh. Regular timed online auctions for vehicles, plant and machinery, classic cars and fine wine have already been held with great success at the firm which has offices in Shropshire, Staffordshire and London.

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