Newbury auction house expects rare Romanée Conti to fetch £6-8K

Dreweatts are expecting a single bottle of wine to go for £6,000-£8,000 at auction later this month.

A rare bottle of 1961 Romanée Conti was discovered purely by chance after more than 50 years. The bottle was part of an original batch sold by Andre Noblet, head wine maker at Domaine Romanée Conti since 1948, to a French client in Lozère in Languedoc-Roussillon in 1963.

It was given as gift to the current family shortly afterwards and has remained in their Wiltshire cellar ever since. The bottle was recently discovered tucked away in a far corner of their extensive cellar by their son-in-law, while hunting for suitable bottles of wine to celebrate their diamond wedding. It will be a highlight of Dreweatts Fine and Rare Wine and Spirits auction on April 29.

Head of Dreweatts wine department Mark Robertson said: “Wines from the esteemed Romanée Conti estate in Burgundy are only ever produced in small quantities, which means that demand is high and certain vintages, such as this, can be scarce. This, coupled with this particular bottle’s excellent provenance and its storage in perfect cellarage conditions, makes it a truly exceptional, as well as rare, bottle.”

Grand Crus are known for their longevity and it is not recommended to drink it before 10 years, this therefore can only have helped enrich this bottle after having been ‘laid down’ for more than 50. Among the tasting notes for this vintage, it is described as ‘rich and elegant’.

“It is such a pleasure to be able to offer such a rare bottle, that is so prized by so many.,” added Mr Robertson. “The fact that its history can be traced directly all along it’ journey from the Romanée Conti estate and it has so been perfectly preserved, makes this even more exciting. How amazing that it was tucked away forgotten for so many years, but someone will be extremely happy that it was.”

The bottle has been given an estimate of £6,000-8,000.