And what is so mind-blowing about collecting wine? Uncovering hidden treasures in a thrilling hunt? Possessing an unique bottle from a legendary wine-maker? Increasing the number of iconic wines in a treasure vault? Each collector brings his/her specific response emanating from his/her own wine experience. And ultimately, wine is about sharing!

Just like the ideal perpetual renewal of a wine cellar, consistency and surprises will be the hallmarks of Baghera’s autumn Wine o’clocks. Thus, I have the tremendous pleasure to introduce our “ Forever Yours ” Wine o’clock sale. This Swiss private collection presents a selection of the finest red and white Bordeaux and Burgundian appellations and some rarities that whisky lovers will definitely appreciate.

Amongst the many highlights included in this auction, rarely-seen bottles of Haut-Brion 1945, Vega Sicilia “Unico” 1968 or Le Pin 1989, full cases of Yquem 1999 and 2005 or some rare bottles of Krug Clos d’Ambonnay and Chartreuse Tarragone du Siècle that will surely enthrall all wine enthusiasts.

This auction is also an extraordinary opportunity to get hold of rare wines in large formats such as a methuselah of La Tâche 1983, an unique magnum of Screaming Eagle 1992, magnums of Chambertin Rousseau 1999, Yquem 1967 and Lafite Rothschild 1961, imperials of Yquem 2008 & 2011, a nabuchodonosor of Yquem 2013…

As a close to this auction, I am thrilled to highlight this rare selection of Port Ellen releases from the 1970s that should captivate all serious whisky amateurs.

“Forever Yours” Wine o’clock
Tuesday 26th of September at 2pm

Peace finally returned to the city in 1154, when the Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine married the French Count Henri Plantagenet the future King Henry II of England. Thus Bordeaux fell under English control for the next three centuries. During this period of time, a large export trade was built up with England, and while the majority of the wine came from other neighboring areas (such as Bergerac and Cahors), the vineyard of today’s Bordeaux region was also developed and widely expanded. With the departure of the English followed by the Wars of Religion, France did not fully recover until Louis XIV laid the ground, in the second half of the 17th Century, for a new era where great estates and chateaux will rise and develop.

Despite the discriminatory duties levied in force against French wines imported into England (twice as hard as those levied on Iberian wines), large quantities of ordinary Bordeaux wines were consumed along with wines of the last vintage. The latter were most sought after, giving rise to ‘The New French Claret’ and the notion of growth or ‘crus’. The major Bordeaux vineyard owners started changing the face of Médoc (Haut-Brion, Lafite) and an aristocratic class of merchants soon developed as demand for fine wines was fiercely growing. On the model of Haut-Brion, Lafite, Margaux or Latour, Bordeaux experienced a period of intense commercial prosperity in the years leading up to the Revolution. During this period, Bordeaux invested many efforts in renewing the vineyard and developing its port. The post-Restauration period saw the birth and expansion of the négociants, importing-exporting wines as their main activity.

The following Second Empire saw a new phase, where influential investors from outside Bordeaux (such as the Rothschild and Péreire families) set up in the vineyard. The defeat in the Franco-Prussian War, followed by the phylloxera plague and the mildew period at the turn-out of the century affected the general economy. In addition, the depression was accompanied by a succession of middle-class vintages. The post-war era and its succession of splendid vintages (1945, 1947, 1949) opened a new chapter in which Bordeaux’s prosperity, modern vineyard practices and innovating vinification processes have offered, vintage after vintage, to all Bordeaux lovers surprises and excitement.

The vintage started with a cold, winter (especially January) followed by a mild, warm, March. Then the vineyard suffered a massive outbreak of mildew; one of the worst seen in the Bordeaux wine region in decades. Flowering took place later than usual. June was cold, damp and some (not much) sun. Then, all the right pieces seemed to fall into place during the summer! Starting at the end of July, Bordeaux benefited from two months of perfect, warm, dry, weather that was filled with sunshine, even followed by drought-like conditions during August. September was bone dry and for the first two weeks, sunny and hot. That year, the harvest officially started September 20th. The 2000 Bordeaux harvest was conducted in perfect weather conditions overall. For most estates, the 2000 harvest was over by October 10th.

2000  was much more successful for red Bordeaux wines than it was for either dry, white Bordeaux or the sweet, white Bordeaux wines. For reds, 2000 is a vintage of powerful wines, and although the tannins are the highest on record, they are neither aggressive nor herbal. These wines are a perfectly nice drink at this advanced stage in their life: delightful freshness, gentle tannins and a seriously impressive harmony.

Our “Bordeaux Terroirs” is an unique opportunity to acquire some of these memorable 2000’s and succumb to our selection of some of the best 2000 clarets.

At the doors of Bordeaux, Nature invites us to experience the Awakening. Let us stride through the freshness of the morning mist, observe the tears of sap appearing on the tips of the pruned branches, discover the first buds bursting into life after the vine’s winter rest and feel the caress of the setting sun on the aristocratic-trained vines, full of promise. Soon, in a few weeks time, the fascinating Vitis Vinifera will enter a new era of its annual cycle : the future flowering and fruit-set paving the way to the grape’s birth and future conversion into the “nectar of the gods”.

Just like the perpetual renewal of the vine, consistency and surprises will be the hallmarks of Baghera’s Spring Wine o’clocks.

Thus, I have the tremendous pleasure to introduce our “Bordeaux Terroirs” Wine o’clock sale. This Swiss private collection presents a selection of the finest Bordeaux appellations and some rarities that lovers of mature wine will definitely appreciate. Pétrus, Margaux, Mouton Rothschild, Haut-Brion… these names ring out through our passion for wine. Furthermore, this Wine o’clock is a great opportunity to bargain-hunt some carefully selected clarets (many offered in their original wooden cases). Amongst them: Vieux Château Certan, Pichon Comtesse, Pavie, Figeac, Montrose, Mission-Haut-Brion, Cos d’Estournel, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Lynch-Bages… from the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s.

As all seasoned wine-lovers know, bigger bottles are actually about quality, rather than quantity. The benefits of wines in large formats are many : they age more slowly than the standard 75cl bottle and they make wonderful wedding presents and long-lasting anniversary gifts ! For these reasons, the demand for bigger wine bottles – or large formats, as the insiders call them – has grown substantially in the past few decades. Every serious wine collector should be captivated by the opportunity to enhance his cellar with these extraordinary wine formats.

The other treasures of this collection are the impeccable Whiskies flasks that are offered here. The flagship of Scotland’s distilleries mix with some rare and very singular bottlings, for the ravishment of enlightened whisky enthusiasts.

“Drinking Sir?” – make your choice amongst these flawless diamonds : Margaux 2008 comes in a double-magnum, Mouton 2000 appears in imperial, magnum and bottle formats, Pétrus 2005 comes as a double magnum, Masseto 2012 chooses imperial and magnum formats whilst Ornellaia “Vendemmia d’Artista” from 2008 to 2011 appear under the form of double-magnums, alongside nowhere-else-to-be found Balvenie 50yo 1963 and Macallan Anniversary Malt over 50yo 1928.

Browse this inspired selection, and succumb to these rare wines & whiskies with impeccable provenance that will keep you dreaming and enthused for many years to come…

Just like harvest time, excitement and fever will be the hallmarks of Baghera’s autumn Wine o’clocks.

First in a series, I have the tremendous pleasure to introduce our “French Terroirs” Wine o’clock sale. From the flawless cellars of the Geneva Free Ports, this private collection presents a selection of the best French vineyards and some rarities that mature wine-lovers and great vintage seekers will definitely appreciate. Roussillon, Côte d’Or, Pauillac, Côte Rôtie, these names ring out through our passion for wine. Among other highlights, Baghera wines has carefully selected a case of 6 magnums of Latour 1959, 12 bottles of Haut-Brion 1945 along with exceptional original wooden cases (12 bottles) of Vosne-Romanée 1993 from the illustrious Henri Jayer.

“French Terroirs” Wine o’clock will start at 2pm precisely on Tuesday 11th of October (Swiss time!).

Be on time, it will go fast and us Swiss don’t mess with time !