In conjunction with our
January – Part 3 auction sale, we are excited to offer for bid procure a significant assemblage of eminently collectible French wine from the
Monarch Beach Collection. This superb collection highlights three of France’s most important red wine producing regions: Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône Valley.
The Bordeaux portion of the collection underscores three of the region’s most significant vintages of the 1980s from Château Mouton Rothschild (
1986,
1988 and
1989). This was an all-star decade for Bordeaux and Mouton Rothschild contributed in no small way to its glory! 1986 is a classic vintage; structured and long-lived. I daresay, many of these wines are just entering their prime! At the time, it was heralded as one of the truly great Bordeaux vintages, on par with 1982. Although stylistically different from 1982, many, in fact, thought it superior!
The
1986 Mouton Rothschild is legendary! Robert M. Parker 100 points, Wine Spectator 99 points for those into numbers. For me, the 1986 Mouton Rothschild transcends its identity as a beverage or wine and takes on that of an objet d’art! Worth pursuing still today – particularly for those who have never experienced its grandeur.
The 1988 Bordeaux vintage has always been one of my very favorites in conjunction with its optimal price/quality ratio. It’s another classically configured affair with each of the communes showcasing their unique identities as engendered by the rainbow of sundry soil types and micro-climates associated with both the Haut-Médoc and Right Bank. Accordingly, the
1988 Mouton Rothschild, while not a powerhouse, delivers enjoyable, high-quality pleasure at what can still be called a reasonable price.
1989 was a warmer vintage in Bordeaux and this facet of riper fruit endows the
1989 Mouton with a pleasurable quotient of supple richness and textural softness while not sacrificing any of the complexity and delineation of the renowned Pauillac terroir for which the estate is known. The 1989 Mouton Rothschild has entered its window of prime drinkability.
We’ll finish up the Bordeaux portion synopsis with brief mention of the
1978 Pichon-Lalande which offers to the bidder a fully mature Bordeaux experience. It’s an historically important high-water mark for the estate.
Beyond Bordeaux, the Monarch Beach Collection offers two legendary productions from Burgundy and the Rhône Valley. The
1990 Vogüé Musigny stands, in my opinion, as one of the most historically notable wines ever to emanate from Burgundy. Upon release, it triggered a renewed awareness of all things Burgundian from American collectors and imbibers by virtue of the many overwhelmingly positive reviews the wine received from numerous critics and publications. It was the wine everyone wanted to own! This interest continues unabated today. Many wine historians regard 1990 as the vintage which marked the beginning of the renaissance of modern Burgundy.
Last, but certainly, not least, the Monarch Beach Collection offers a small allocation of the sublime
1990 Hermitage “La Chappelle” from Jaboulet Aine. This gem is frequently overlooked by collectors due to the fact that it emanates from the Rhône region of France which is too often regarded as standing a step below Burgundy and Bordeaux in terms of prestige and collectibilty. Wrongly so, in my opinion! I had the distinctive pleasure to dine with the late, great Gérard Jaboulet many years ago and it remains one my most treasured wine experiences! Do not miss this out on this unique jewel of French wine history!
