In an upcoming auction, Sotheby’s is presenting a selection of untouched vintage wines direct from Chanel’s vineyards. The sale celebrates 25 years of Chanel’s ownership of two historic Bordeaux vineyards, Château Rauzan-Ségla (left bank) and Château Canon (right bank).
The upcoming Chanel’s vineyards sale reportedly comprises over 900 lots and features a range of sixty rare vintages with a combined estimate of £730,000, according to reports in Vino-joy. The vintage wines span from 1917 to 2020, delivered in various sizes from standard bottle to Melchior (18 liters). The wines will be open for bidding on October 15 and culminate in a live auction on October 29 in London.
The most highly-priced wine is a rare bespoke barrel of Château Canon 2020 estimated at £24,000 – £32,000 by Sotheby’s. Another selection features pre-war vintages including three bottles of Château Canon 1926 estimated at £950 – £1,400 and three Magnums of the 1933 vintage.
“At Sotheby’s, we have been closely watching the steady resurgence of these two great Châteaux, whose reputations have been fully restored to their illustrious past, with each current vintage being one of the most sought-after by today’s collectors,” said Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide head of Sotheby’s Wine. “Both properties have undergone a significant period of investment where every decision was based on how to make the very best quality wine, which reflects their superb and distinct terroirs. No shortcuts have been taken, and each decision has been made with the long term in mind. There are no other two properties where one can measure this philosophy so closely and see such clear results – combining purity, finesse and generosity, the wines made under the management of Nicolas Audebert define class. Offering such an incredible range of great vintages directy from Château Rauzan Segla and Château Canon – wines that have never left the cellars of either property until now – will provide lovers of these two great Châteaux an extraordinary opportunity to acquire, taste and enjoy historic wines in pristine condition.”
The French estates Rauzan-Ségla and Canon châteaux are situated between Margaux and Saint-Émilion, with more than 100 years of winemaking history on the banks of the Gironde estuary. The auction will mark the first time the wines carried a Grand Cru and Premier Cru classification in this generation.
“Making wine is not a trivial job. It requires passion and a lot of humility. It also implies a special relationship with time. Being a winegrower is like being a craftsman who, through patient and gradual work, creates something that is made to last,” explained added Nicolas Audebert, managing director of Châteaux Rauzan-Ségla, Canon, Berliquet and Domaine de l’Ile. “The key words at Rauzan-Ségla and Canon are know-how, elegance and timelessness, values shared by CHANEL, which has been supporting the châteaux for 25 years. With this sale, Sotheby’s is highlighting the exceptional longevity of our wines. We are very happy to be sharing our collections with fine wine lovers around the world.”
Along with the rare wine collections, the sale reportedly comes with several exclusive experiences including tours and unique stays in the vineyards and Châteaux, or visits to Coco Chanel’s apartment in Paris, Chanel’s art houses and flower fields – the birthplace of the brand’s perfumery – in Grasse.
This auction is an echo to the book From One Bank to Another (D’une rive à l’autre) – first published in December 2020, highlithing the collaboration between five photographers and three writers as a celebration of the link between Château Rauzan-Ségla and Château Canon, and their different identities.
For more information, head over to Sotheby’s official website.
