Fine wine news

Notable Burgundy winemaker Henri Jayer is to sell a selection of fine wine from his private cellar at Christie's next month.

A total of 102 lots will go up for sale at the auction house's Hong Kong branch on February 10th, including bottles of Nuits-St.-Georges, Les Brulees and Vosne-Romanée.

Expected best-sellers on the night include three bottles of Richebourg 1978, which Mr Jayer named "one of the best in the century". The lot has a top estimate of HK$500,000 (£42,000).

Meanwhile, a case of Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru Cros Parantoux 1985 could reach its top estimate of HK$1 million. Mr Jayer managed to bring the vineyard to premier cru status in 1953 and many critics often call for it to be promoted to Grand Cru.

"Henri Jayer is among the most mythical names in Burgundy, and his wines are among the most sought-after (and expensive) in the world," noted Charles Curtis, head of wine for Asia at Christie's.

"This is a sale of historic dimension featuring wines of perfect provenance and condition, a unique opportunity to purchase wines of extraordinary rarity that will never be repeated again."

The sale is expected to fetch more than HK$20 million.

Posted by Paula Henderson