So what does a 100-year old Bordeaux REALLY taste like? I saw a YouTube video recently, I think the guy is a popular wine personality in Europe, who opened three early 1900s First Growths donated by viewers. (Who needs generous neighbors when you have viewers like those? But I digress.) He ended up decidedly nonplussed, for the most part.
In a word: good.
But seriously, these wines were a lot fresher than other similarly aged bottles I’ve had, likely due to multiple rebouche treatments over the years (all of the rebouche for the Lafite wines are from other Lafite bottles of the same vintage). What did they taste like? Like Lafite from the late 50s / early 60s - so much fruit for their age, very little watering on the rim and no brick. Tannins fully resolved, leaving a solid core of soft yet reasonably dense wine. The wines weren’t floral. The wines didn’t have eucalyptus or other spearmint notes. They were easy to drink and very inviting.
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We had a good couple of nights at Bern’s in 2011 where we drank Montrose, Lafite, and Mouton from the 1890’s and 1900’s. The wines were all on their original cork. Obviously, special wines that can never be duplicated/repeated, but they did not leave me “breathless”.
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My husband has had a lot of these, including the 1870 Lafite discussed above, also from magnum and also recorked and refurbished at the Chateeau. It was number of years ago, but he said it was superb, though the category is definitely a thing unto itself.
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It’s all about personal taste TBH. The best wines are decidedly more “port like”, and yet leathery and mushroomy. I also find a strong note of celery salt too. They also usually have some RS and VA. The wines that are in the tertiary phase are not all that great, and usually really acidic and not that charming.
The wines that are rich and robust simply don’t match what’s being made today (in the best way), and have their place in the history of wine making. Those are the ones I recall best. The texture and mouthfeel of these wines is what always excites me, and the flavor profile isn’t like anything else.
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What did the 1920 GL go for? That’s what I had my eye on.
I love old Bordeaux, but these bottles were way out of my price range. I threw in a couple bids ahead of time, but the starting bids and estimates were just fantasy. I think the single bottle winner was $387,500 for a single 1.5L bottle of 1870 Lafite- after buyers premium. Now they are going to have to pay tariff, shipping and Zachys other fees if they want their wine anytime soon.
All with 25% BP included but not tariffs
6x750 recorked in 1991 - all estimated at 1.9k-3k with BP.
Lot 2020: 35k (this one went to the Statue of Liberty across from me)
Lot 2021: 32.5k
Lot 2022: 30k
Lot 2023: 30k
Lot 2024: 22.5k
Lot 2025: 25k
Thanks
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What do people think is generally the fate of these bottles? Are the buyers going to open them and drink them, or will they just be held onto as a collectible forever?
I know it’s not all one or the other, but what do you think is going to be the most common outcome?
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The Gruauds from this period are incredible and anyone who was able to find $30k in their couch cushions is in for a treat. It was not super long ago that bottles like this could be drunk affordably off the Bern’s list and I know there are a number of us here who have had some of the wines offered in this auction and can attest that they are not merely interesting in an academic sense but deliver all the payoff you cellar wines for and then a whole 'nother gear on top of that. The '24 Lafite is one of the most magical wines I’ve ever had (believe we paid about $700 in 2012).
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I can’t speak for all the lots, but at least 30 of the lots purchased from Jacqueline’s collection are going to people I know and they are wine consumers.
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I’ve had quite a few from Berns over the years. Some were better than others but I don’t recall ever having one that I didn’t like.
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We had a bunch of nineteenth century Gruauds at the chateau, so the provenance was as good as this. A few were excellent, but as much because of the age rather than the quality. Highest score I gave a 93 for the 1852. In terms of quality, I would prefer a bottle of Pichon Lalande 1982.
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Permit me to recommend the 1914
Who says it wasn’t an HK buyer? Then no tariffs would apply.
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Without even knowing who the buyer’s are, these absolutely feel like they were bought from consumption.
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You don’t think they are ready to drink yet??
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I sent this to a few friends - putting here for fun
| Zachy’s Auction - Sept 19th 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Total Lots | 288 |
| Number of Estates | 25 |
| Number of vintages | 37 |
| Oldest Vintage | 1868 |
| Youngest Vintage | 1942 |
| Average Lot Price Realized | $38,750 |
| Highest Lot Price Realized | $387,500 |
| Lowest Lot Price Realized | $3,500 |
| Average 750 Price Realized | $16,898 |
| Highest 750 Realized | $193,750 |
| Lowest 750 Realized | $583 |
| Number of Lots Sold Below Low Est | 4 |
| % of Lots Sold Below Low Est | 1% |
| Number of Lots Sold Above High Est | 236 |
| % of Lots Sold Above High Est | 82% |
| Average Ratio of Lot Realized Price to Lot High Est | 2.82 |
| Average Ratio of Lot Realized Price to Lot High Est (Wt by 750s) | 14.75 |
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Those are some crazy numbers! I mentioned to get a lot below the estimate, but it was Champagne from an earlier collection.