Rant: White Males Only?

Last week, I attended the Skinner Wine Auction in Boston with my friend Dale. There were about 500 lots up for bidding, though I only stayed for the inital 1/3 of the auction. It is a fun event, though I have yet to actually win anything but then again I also bid very rarely.

The lots included plenty of Bordeaux plus some Burgundy and high-end wines from Australia, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, and the U.S. Two of the lots sold for over $30,000 each. Guess the rough economy is not affecting everyone in the same way. Almost nothing sold for under $200, though you could get some good values if you had the money. But what most struck me was the make-up of the attendees.

About 95% of the attendees were white males so there was very little diversity. That is essentially the same as the prior Skinner auctions I have attended. But why is that the case? Where is everyone else and why don't they attend such auctions? Is wine collecting primarily a hobby of wealthy white men?

Back in May 2008, there was an article in Decanter magazine called "Collecting: It's A Man's World" by Rosi Hanson. The basic premise was that men are the wine collectors in the world and that few women take on that role. The article begins: "Men collect, women appreciate--discuss." Though there are exceptions, it seems that wine collecting is primarily a male hobby. There is even a psychologist quoted who states that collecting in general is a male thing. There are then quotes from several other people, all giving support to Rosi's premise.

But is that changing? Are more women getting into collecting wine? There are certainly plenty of women now writing about wine, but do they also collect wine? Or are they mainly buying wine to drink, not to save or invest?

And what about non-whites? Are they too buying wine primarily to drink rather than to collect? Is it a financial matter, where wealthier people, white or non-white, collect wine? Boston certainly has a diverse enough population so that there easily could have been more diversity at the wine auction, though there was not.

Is Skinner primarily marketing to white males? How many people even know they have wine auctions twice a year? Do others, besides white males, feel intimidated by wine auctions?

I would like to see more diversity at such events, but I think we need to understand some of the reasons for the lack of it before we can effectuate proper change. What are your thoughts?

7th Annual Tanglewood Wine & Food Classic

Returning for its seventh year, the Tanglewood Wine & Food Classic brings the best of wine, food and music to the Berkshires for three days of events. Festivities include a winemaker reception and the 6th Annual Wine Auction Dinner – all culminating with the Classic’s signature event, the Grand Tasting.

Come out for all three days, or make the Grand Tasting a day trip from Boston with bus service leaving from Symphony Hall and Riverside-MBTA Station. Bus departs Symphony Hall at 9:30 AM, departs Riverside at 10:00 AM and arrives at Tanglewood by noon. Bus returns to Boston at 4:30 PM. Cost is $35 round-trip.

2009 Schedule of Events

THURSDAY, AUGUST 6

6th Annual Wine Auction Dinner at Seranak
Dinner prepared by special guest chef Zach Bell of Café Boulud in Palm Beach and Jeffrey Thompson of the Berkshires’ iconic Wheatleigh, paired with wines presented by Rob and Maria Helm Sinskey of Napa’s Robert Sinksey Vineyards.
Auction featuring large format and hard-to-find wines.
Individual tickets $225. All proceeds benefiting the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 7

Wine Seminars and Meet the Winemaker Reception

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8

Wine Seminars

Night of the Living Locavore
Noted chef Timothy Quinn of the Seaman’s Inn in Mystic, CT prepares a locally-sourced dinner with native foods from local farmers in the Berkshires, paired with an East Coast-West Coast combination of wines from Connecticut’s Jonathan Edwards wines and Sonoma’s Landmark Vineyards wines, presented by Damaris Colhoun.
Individual tickets $95.

The Grand Tasting
--Wine tastings from over 50 vintners, including Atlas Peak, Barefoot Wine, Cháteau le Garde, Cháteau Pey la Tour, Cháteau Teyssier, Dancing Bear Cellars, Diane del Belgrave, Geyser Peak, J. Vidal Fleury, Kenefick Ranch Winery, Landmark Vineyards, Lionello Marchesi, Loire Valley Wines, Pierre Sparr, Poppy Wine Company, Robert Sinskey Vineyards, Still River Winery, Tenuta Santome and many more.
--Watch celebrity chefs from renowned restaurants, including Alta, Brix, Four Seasons Hotel Boston, Frankie’s Ristorante Italiano, Metro Bis, Patina Restaurant Group, Stowe Mountain Lodge and Wheatleigh display their talents during 45-minute cooking demonstrations at Viking kitchen stages. Other participating restaurants and food purveyors include Kerrygold and Old Chatham Cheese.
--12:00 – 4:00pm on the Tanglewood Grounds. Individual tickets $105.

To view the complete schedule or to purchase tickets for the Grand Tasting or any of the events, please call 888-266-1200 or visit www.tanglewoodwineandfoodclassic.com

SPONSORS: The Tanglewood Wine and Food Classic is sponsored by: Viking as the Presenting Sponsor and joined by Lux Bond & Green, Colonnade Hotel, Boston Common, St. Germain, Acqua Panna, San Pellegrino, Nestle Waters and iGourmet.

Skinner Wine Auction: May 21

With spring hear, it is time again for Skinner, a large auction house in Boston, to hold another wine auction. The auction will be held on Thursday, May 21 at 5pm at their offices at 63 Park Plaza, Boston. Skinner’s retail partner in this venture is one of my favorite wine stores, Lower Falls Wine Co.

Though they have not posted the catalog of lots yet, they have stated they will have the following wines. "Featured will be stellar consignments of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Napa and Port wines. On the block will be full cases from the 2000 vintage of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion, Chateau Latour, Chateau Lynch Bages, and 1996 and 2002 Chateau Lafite Rothschild. Assortment cases to be had of Domaine de la Romanee Conti vintages 2000 and 2001. Napa is highlighted by Sine Qua Non and verticals of Harlan Estate, Phelps Insignia, Silver Oak, Beringer Private Reserve and Caymus, Special Selection." On May 4, there will be a special online preview of the items up for auction.

With the economy as it is, you might actually find some excellent bargains. I will likely attend the auction so maybe I will see some of my readers there. It is a fun event, even if you don't bid on anything.

13th Annual Nantucket Wine Festival

Over the past 12 years the Nantucket Wine Festival has become one of the country’s most celebrated and prestigious wine and food events. Situated within the heart of downtown Nantucket, and attended by world-renowned winemakers, chefs and celebrities, the 13th Annual Nantucket Wine Festival takes place May 13-17.

Highlights include:

· Expansion of last year’s tremendously popular luncheon symposium program. The equivalent of a graduate course in advanced wine philosophy, the symposia features an hour-long tasting and discussion, followed by a luncheon of exquisite food paired with the wines of the participating vignerons.

· Sultans of Sonoma Coast: San Francisco Chronicle Winemaker of the Year Ehren Jordan will be joined by two other star winemakers, David Hirsch and Andy Peay, as they explain the attributes of California’s hottest new viticultural region, the Sonoma Coast.

· The Nantucket Historical Association Auction Dinner, held at the White Elephant Hotel and featuring the culinary talents of Daniel Bruce of Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel, who is celebrating 20 years of winemaker dinners at the Boston Wine Festival, and the king of all Spanish wine, Jorge Ordóñez of Fine Estates from Spain, the winner of last year’s Luminary of the Year award. The auction is always exciting and this year promises even more excitement as the centerpiece of the auction will be an 1870 Barrister’s bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, considered by man to be the finest example of pre-phylloxera claret.

· Towle’s Hill, a one-man show by former Nantucketer Mark Kenward, which chronicles over 150 years of history at one of California’s oldest wineries, Gundlach Bundschu in Sonoma.

· The Nantucket Wine Festival has been famous for the number of great winemakers who visit us in May, and this year’s array of winemakers is absolutely stunning, featuring many of the best talents in the world of wine. Ehren Jordan, owner of Failla Vineyards and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Winemaker of the Year; Ray Coursen, owner/winemaker of Elyse Vineyards and the winner of the NWF’s 2009 Luminary of the Year award; Jean-Luc Pépin, Directeur Commercial, Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé; Jean-Charles Thomas, Head Winemaker, Maison Louis Latour; John Kolasa, General Manager, Château Rauzan-Segla and Château Canon; Rob and Maria Sinskey, owners, Robert Sinskey Vineyards; Jorge Ordóñez, president and founder, Fine Estates from Spain and the winner of the NWF’s 2008 Luminary of the Year award; Jim Clendenen, owner/winemaker of Au Bon Climat.

· The Festival’s signature event, The Grand Tasting, will be held for the 3rd year at the historic Nantucket Yacht Club

Located on Nantucket Harbor, the White Elephant Hotel serves as NWF’s home base and hosts many of the Festival’s events, including The Charity Gala, The Celebrity Chef and Winemaker Auction Dinner and the majority of Wine & Food Seminars. The White Elephant is a Nantucket “grande dame” and is the center of our activities. Events are also held at locations throughout the island, including restaurants and private homes.

The Festival is attended by over 150 wineries from countries throughout the world, each typically represented by the winemaker or vineyard owner. Celebrity chefs from Boston, Nantucket, Providence, Newport, Austin, New Jersey and New York lead seminars in wine and food pairing, perform cooking demonstrations and mingle with attendees. The Nantucket Historical Association and the Nantucket New School are the Festival’s charity partners and the beneficiaries of over $145,000 in 2008 alone.

For a complete description of all events, attendees, lodging and ticket packages and price information, contact the Nantucket Wine Festival online or by phone at (508) 228-1128.

Red Oak Winery: For Sale!

Would you like to own a winery? How about one in Massachusetts? If so, now may be your chance to purchase an existing winery.

Today on Craig's List, there is an advertisement about a "Secured Party Auction" of a winery located in Middleton, Massachusetts. This is the Red Oak Winery. It appears that a creditor of Red Oak Winery, who has a security interest in the winery, has not been paid sufficiently and has forced an auction.

The auction will be held on March 30 at 11am. The sale includes all wine, wine making equipment, furniture, & fixtures. It is sold "as is" and "where is." You can check out the ad for additional details.

I have not yet been able to find any additional information about this. The Red Oak Winery site mentions nothing about the auction.

Skinner Wine Auction: March 13

As spring approaches, it is time once again for Skinner, a large auction house in Boston, to hold another wine auction. The auction will be held on Friday, March 13 at 6pm at their offices at 63 Park Plaza, Boston. Skinner’s retail partner in this venture is one of my favorite wine stores, Lower Falls Wine Co.

They have not posted the catalog of lots for the auction so I don't know exactly what will be offered. The catalog will likely be posted at the end of February. With a difficult economy, many of us won't have much extra money to bid on wine, but if you do, this might be the time to find some excellent bargains. There were bargains to be found at the prior auctions, and this one might offer even more bargains, especially as there might be less people around to bid.


The auction proceeds quickly and should not last more than two hours or so. I will likely attend the auction so maybe I will see some of my readers there. It is a fun event, even if you don't bid on anything.

Wine Auction: September 19

Once again, Skinner, a large auction house in Boston, will be holding another wine auction. the auction will be held on Friday, September 19 at 6pm at their offices at 63 Park Plaza, Boston. Skinner’s retail partner in this venture is one of my favorite wine stores, Lower Falls Wine Co.

You can check out the catalog of lots that will be auctioned. There will be over 250 lots and they will be auctioning more than just wine this time. They have added a number of wine-related antiques including decanters, glassware and more. The wines come from France, Germany, Italy, Spain, California, Australia, Portugal. They range from Bordeaux and Burgundy to Port and Champagne.

Some of the highlights include:
12 Bottles of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 1982
2 Bottles of Screaming Eagle
12 Bottles of Chateau Margaux 1982
12 Bottles of Chateau Petrus 1989
12 Bottles of Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1982
Chateau d'Yquem 1928
Double Magnum of Chateau Latour 1982
2 Bottles of Chateau Margaux 1929
10 Bottles of Chateau Haut Brion
4 views from Grands Vignobles de la Cote d'Or

I attended their last auction in March, and it was quite exciting. Plus, there were bargains to be found, provided you had the money to purchase some of these high-end wines. The auction proceeds quickly and should not last more than two hours or so. I will likely attend this auction too so maybe I will see you there.

Skinner Wine Auction: Exciting and Interesting

So I finally went to my first wine auction. And I quite enjoyed myself. Plus, I learned more about the local wine community and was surprised by some of what I witnessed. It is definitely an experience I will repeat again.

This past Friday night, the Skinner Gallery in Boston held their second Wine Auction. It was held at their offices near the Park Plaza, the same room where they had the pre-auction wine tasting the evening before. Upon entering the room, you could partake of a glass of chilled Louis Roederer Champagne. They even had a few appetizers to nibble upon.

I registered for a bidder number and received my paddle, #40. There were plenty of chairs in the room and a fair number of people showed up, predominantly men. There were a few telephones set up at the front of the room for phone bids though there was only need for one such phone. Though that phone would be quite busy during the auction.

There were over 240 lots up for auction and they planned on going through about 100 lots each hour. And they would actually come fairly close to accomplishing that. The auctioneer was a woman and she did an excellent and professional job of hosting the auction. Matters proceeded quickly so if you wanted to bid, you needed to be on the ball or you would lose out.

The auction catalog listed all of the lots with a description of their condition as well as a ranged estimate of their value. I had done a bit of research prior to the auction and it seemed their estimates were generally conservative. What surprised me were the number of lots that sold for less than the estimates, or at the low end of the range. Very few wines sold for more than the estimated value. So this seems to indicate that bargains can be found at these auctions. You probably could find better deals at the auction than if you tried to buy some of the same wines at a retail store.

I only stayed for the first 100 lots but almost all of those lots sold. Only three did not sell and they were two lots of Opus 1979-80 and a lot of Opus One 1984. Two other Opus One lots sold so I am not sure why the other three did not.

Let me give you a sampling of some of the lots that sold and for how much. The first lot of the evening was 3 bottles of 1953 Chateau Margaux that sold for $1500, which was less than its estimated value of $1800-$2800. One of the oldest wines was six bottles of 1870 Lafite Rothschild, estimated at $25K-$35K. And it sold for only $19K. I was interested in two half-bottles of 1988 Chateau d'Yqeum but they sold for $425, more than its estimated value of $250-400. I was not interested in paying that much for them. A bottle of 1996 Screaming Eagle sold for $1900 and a bottle of the 1998 vintage sold for $1300.

The person who bought the most lots was the man on the telephone. It seemed like he bought about 20% of the lots though I did not keep an exact count. This mystery man certainly bought a lot of wine. Some people had previously bid online or phoned in bids earlier. So, when some of the lots were initially offered, there were already bids in place. Though generally those bids did not win the lots.

Everything seemed to go very smoothly and professionally. It was fun to watch the bidding, to see what some were willing to pay for the various wines. You do get caught up in the action and you want to join in, to make a bid. I did bid on a couple items for which I had not previously planned on bidding. But at the moment they seemed like potentially good buys. Though the price rose too much for me.

I do wish though that there had been a bit more diversity in the wines up for auction. Many countries were not represented at all, such as Spain and South Africa. And other countries only had a minimal number of wines at the auction, such as Australia and Italy. But that is a function of who offers their wines for consignment. And that tends to be those holding French and California wines. It is out of the hands of the auction gallery. They can only sell what others offer for sale.

I eagerly look forward to their fall wine auction. This was only Skinner's second wine auction in Boston and it will continue to improve with time. There will be more lots and hopefully more diversity. Skinner certainly sells almost all of the lots and they run a very professional operation. It is definitely something that all wine lovers should experience. I would recommend it to all, even if you just go to watch.

Pre-Auction Wine Tasting: Amazing

Once again I had the exciting opportunity to taste some amazing wines, wines that are not part of my usual buying range. Last September, I attended a pre-auction wine tasting at Skinner Gallery in Boston and it was sublime. This past Thursday, Skinner Gallery held another such tasting prior to their second wine auction. The tasting was held in collaboration with the good people of Lower Falls Wine Co., one of my favorite wine stores.

When you entered the tasting room, you could begin your evening with a fine glass of Louis Roederer Champagne. Then, over the course of the next ninety minutes, they allowed you to taste thirteen top-notch wines.

The list included:
Red Bordeaux
1989 Chateau La Conseillante
1986 Chateau Gruaud Larose
1983 Chateau Lafite-Rothschild
1988 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
1989 Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalanda
Rhone
1989 Jaboulet Aine, Hermotage La Chappelle
1990 Dom. du Regau, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Cuvee Reservee
California
1990 Beringer Private Reserve
1992 Dominus
1992 La Jota, 11th Anniversary Release
1986 Chateau Montelena
1987 Chateau Montelena
Port
1985 Warre

As I have said before, I have little familiarity with such high-end wines. They are generally too expensive except for maybe a very special occasion. So I know that I am not the best judge of such wines. I probably do not appreciate them as much as someone who has far more familiarity with such wines. But, I know what I like, what wines I enjoy.

One thing that seemed different at this tasting over their last pre-auction tasting was that this time I detected more of a musty odor from a number of the wines. That did not carry over into the taste though, and maybe the wines just needed to breathe for a time.

My favorites of the tasting included the 1989 Chateau La Conseillante, 1992 Dominus, the 1989 Jaboulet Aine, Hermitage La Chappelle and the 1985 Warre. I really did not dislike any of the wines. Each wine has its own unique character and generally offered plenty of complexity. I certainly did not spit any of this wine. You only received maybe two mouthfuls of each wine anyways so there was little need to spit. Plus, there was a table of cheese and breads to nibble on between tastes of wine, to help cleanse your palate.

For me, this type of tasting is important as if I am going to purchase any of these high-end wines, it will be to drink them, and not as an investment. So, I want to know what they taste like, to see whether they are worth the money to me. If I only wanted them for an investment, the taste would largely be irrelevant. I would care only for points and popularity, how much other people wanted the wines. Not me. I still just enjoy drinking wine. And if I buy a bottle of wine, I am looking to when I will drink it.

Kudos go out once again to Lower Falls Wine Co. for arranging a exceptional wine tasting. If you have never been to their store, then go. Sign up for their email newsletter as well so that you learn about their upcoming events. There should be another wine auction in the fall so you will want to know about it.

Wine Auction: March 14

It is almost that time. Skinner, a large auction house, will be holding their second wine auction in Boston on March 14, 2008. It will start at 6pm and be held at 63 Park Plaza, Boston. No other auction houses in Massachusetts currently hold wine auctions. Skinner’s retail partner in this venture is one of my favorite wine stores, Lower Falls Wine Co. At the last wine auction, Skinner sold over 95% of their 200+ lots.

Skinner has now posted a copy of the catalog for the upcoming wine auction so you can check out what wines will be available. You can also pick up a copy of the catalog at Lower Falls Wine Co. There are certainly many prize wines up for auction.

I should be there so maybe I will see you there as well. It should be an exciting evening.

Wine Auction: Consignments Wanted

Skinner, a large auction house, will be holding their second wine auction in Boston on March 14, 2008. No other auction houses in Massachusetts currently hold wine auctions. Skinner’s retail partner in this venture is one of my favorite wine stores, Lower Falls Wine Co.

At the last wine auction, Skinner sold over 95% of their 200+ lots. They are currently seeking wines for consignment for the auction and the deadline is January 25, 2008. They accept single bottles, cases, and large collections. You can reach Skinner by telephone at 617-350-5400, ext. 350, or via email at finewines@skinnerinc.com.

Some of the wines that will be at auction in March include a case of both the 1982 and 1975 Chateau Petrus, a collection of demi bottles of Sauternes, and some of the legendary 1870 Lafite Rothschild.

To stay current on the auction, you probably should also stop by Lower Falls Wine Co. and sign up for their email updates. They may also hold a special pre-auction wine tasting. If so, that is also an event you should definitely attend.

Though I missed the first wine auction, I do hope to be able to attend the March one.

Sublime!

I am at a loss for words. How do I properly describe my experience last evening? How do I do justice to the wines that I tasted? What words would be sufficient? Or is it something that can only be experienced? Last evening, I attended a Champagne Reception & Pre-Auction Wine Tasting at the Skinner Gallery in Boston. It was held in collaboration with Lower Falls Wine Co.. This was a two-hour event and what an event it turned out to be.

You could start with a glass of Louis Roederer Brut Premier Champagne, a very nice wine without any overly yeasty taste. While you then meandered through the room, you would come across the primary wine table.

It was here that you could taste 12 exceptional and expensive wines, spaced in three flights.

Flight One:
1997 Chateau Lafite Rothschild
1994 Opus One
1970 Chateau Mouton Rothschild
1985 Dow Port

Flight Two:
2002 Opus One
1999 Chateau Lafite Rothschild
1974 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon
1989 Chateau Rieussec Sauternes

Flight Three:
1991 Opus One
1995 Araujo Cabernet Sauvignon, Eisele (Parker 98 Points)
2000 Chateau Lafite Rothschild (Parker 100 Points)
1977 Taylor Fladgate Port (Parker 96 Points)

So, how do I do justice to this exceptional wines? I find that I cannot. At best, I can sum these wines up as "Sublime."

I admit I have little familiarity with such high-end wines. I don't have them stored in my wine cellar. They are a bit too expensive for me. But, I certainly can tell that they are outstanding wines. Even if I do not understand all of their nuances which someone who knows these wines well would. I was extremely pleased to have this opportunity.

These are generally more subtle wines. You must pay attention to their complexities, savoring the ever-changing flavors. The long, lingering finishes. Each is different as well, varying in the amount of fruit, spice or tannins.

I could try to explain each wine in the usual wine jargon, describing the different flavors and such. But that cannot present how these wines make you feel. It is something that generally cannot be conveyed in words.

We tasted them under less than ideal conditions. We did not have a meal to accompany them where they could truly excel. Yet their quality shined though anyways.

I must once again simply state it was Sublime.

I am torn between the 1970 Mouton and the 2000 Lafite as my favorites. Just pure bliss. The only wine I did not care for was the 1974 Mondavi. It seemed too harsh, almost with a zoo smell. I am not usually a Port person, but enjoyed both Ports very much. They were smoother than the younger Ports I have had before. The aging certainly makes a significant difference.

There was a table of cheese and breads to nibble on between tastes of wine. In addition, there was a short presentation by Andree Robert, co-owner of the renowned Maison Robert restaurant as well as Executive Chef. She spoke upon food pairings with older Bordeaux wines. It was an interesting and informative speech.

Kudos must go out to Lower Falls Wine Co. for arranging another exceptional wine tasting. If you have never been to their store, then go. Sign up for their email newsletter as well so that you learn about their upcoming events.

Remember as well that the wine auction will be held tomorrow, September 12, and starting at 6pm. The wine auction will be held at Skinner's offices at 63 Park Plaza, Boston, MA.

Wine Auction: Friday, Sept.12

This Friday, September 12, and starting at 6pm, Skinner will hold their first Fine Wine Auction in collaboration with Lower Falls Wine Co. The wine auction will be held at Skinner's offices at 63 Park Plaza, Boston, MA.

Their wine catalogue is now available online. There are 216 lots up for auction. You will find Bordeaux and Burgundy, California Cabernet Sauvignon, Port, Champagne, Penfolds Grange, Italian wines, and Oregon Pinot Noir. The majority of lots are French wine.

Some of the top lots include:
9 bottles of 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, valued at $6000-$9000. This wine was awarded 100 points by Robert Parker.
12 bottles of 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, valued at $6000-$9000. This wine was awarded 100 points by Robert Parker.
6 bottles of 2002 Harlan Estate from California, valued at $4000-$6000. This wine was awarded 100 points by Robert Parker.
A magnum of 1959 Château Lafite-Rothschild, valued at $6000-$8000. This wine was awarded 99 points by Robert Parker.

The auction is open to the public and should be interesting to view, even if you might not purchase anything. I am likely to attend.

Wine Auction: Catalog

Skinner, a large auction house, is going to start holding wine auctions in Boston. No other auction houses in Massachusetts currently hold wine auctions. Skinner’s retail partner in this venture is Lower Falls Wine Co. Their first wine auction will be held on September 14, 2007 at 6pm at their offices at 63 Park Plaza, Boston, MA.

Their wine catalogue is now available online. There are 216 lots up for auction. You will find Bordeaux and Burgundy, California Cabernet Sauvignon, Port, Champagne, Penfolds Grange, Italian wines, and Oregon Pinot Noir. The majority of lots are French wine.

Some of the top lots include:

9 bottles of 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild, valued at $6000-$9000. This wine was awarded 100 points by Robert Parker.
12 bottles of 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, valued at $6000-$9000. This wine was awarded 100 points by Robert Parker.
6 bottles of 2002 Harlan Estate from California, valued at $4000-$6000. This wine was awarded 100 points by Robert Parker.
A magnum of 1959 Château Lafite-Rothschild, valued at $6000-$8000. This wine was awarded 99 points by Robert Parker.

The cheapest lot is valued at $60-$90.

The auction is open to the public and should be interesting to view, even if you might not purchase anything.

Wine Auction: Boston

Skinner, a large auction house, is going to start holding wine auctions in Boston. No other auction houses in Massachusetts currently hold wine auctions. Skinner’s retail partner in this venture is Lower Falls Wine Co. Their first wine auction will be held on September 14, 2007 at 6pm at their offices at 63 Park Plaza, Boston, MA. A catalogue of the lots up for auction should be available online around September 1.

There will also be a special Champagne Reception & Pre-Auction Wine Tasting on September 12th from 5:30pm-7:30pm. This will also take place at Skinner's Gallery at 63 Park Plaza. as space is limited, you must RSVP by telephone to 617-350-5400.

About 200 lots will be up for auction, including some very rare wines: Over 350 bottles from the private cellar of the former owners of the Maison Robert restaurant; a magnum of 1959 Château Lafite-Rothschild (valued at $6K-$8K); two cases of 2000 Château Lafite-Rothschild (valued about $9K); three bottles of 1996 Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne 1996 (valued about $5700); two bottles of 1967 Château d'Yquem 1967 (valued about $2800); and a bottle of 1985 Chateau Leoville-las-Cases (valued at $125-$175).

The auction will be open to the public and it could be interesting to view, even if you might not purchase anything.