As part of the Saveur Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival, this is a real collector's auction. These wines are generally unavailable but from private collections or one-of-a-kind lots from the winemakers.
The auction is on Saturday, April 3, 2004, at the Four Seasons. Fine food, wine and auction paddle for $125. But you can submit proxy bids.
Look for lots such as '45 Lafite, '00 Latour, the '82 or '95 First Growths, '99 Guigal LaLa's,and other lots from Romanee-Conti, La Tache, Richebourg, Vega Sicilia, Gaja, Dalla Valle, Kistler, Pahlmeyer, Sine Que Non, Insignia, Screaming Eagle,Caymus SS, Penfolds, Torbreck, Integrity, Henry's Drive and more. Check out the full listing at winefoodfoundation.org. and click on special events.
To check out the entire four-day festival, go to texaswineandfood.org
Interesting line up. I'm just curious though, it seems the estimated prices are quite high (eg 97 Solaia and 97 Tignanello, 1 bottle each $500, 97-99 Dominus 1 bottle each $550). Is this normal for this type of auction, hoping to drum up business?
******** Yes, but I came here for an argument.
Oh! Oh! I'm sorry, this is abuse.
Posts: 4568 | Location: Chicago | Registered: May 24, 2002
The estimated value is, for tax purposes, required to be accurate as possible. The numbers come from using Texas prices (including taxes). If none available, then the most current pricing guides and/or auction results. There is a small premium added based on rarity and the combination of the lot. The '97 Solaia is available nowhere retail, much less matched with the Tignanello. Same goes for the Dominus. You won't find a store in Texas that has all three. Buying all three in the Dominus lot in Texas would cost you about $475 plus the time ($)tracking down all three. But I'd have to agree the lot premium might be a bit high on that one. Good point.
There is no other reason for the estimated amounts. These are not reserve amounts. The actual sale is usually over the estimated (It is a charity auction afterall.), but sometimes less. I'll let you know how much the two lots you questioned go for.
