LONDON.- The stunning ‘Vertical Limit’, a free-standing Champagne refrigerator, the result of a collaboration between Veuve Clicquot and the Porsche Design Studio, leads Sotheby’s London Wine sale on 21 October 2015. Measuring over six feet tall, the brushed steel cellar tower, one of only 15 produced, is purpose built to house 12 magnums of the Grande Marque’s most exceptional vintages since 1950. Estimated at £80,000-100,000, this exceptional design piece comprises individual compartments for each magnum, illuminated in the Veuve Clicquot signature colour.

The cellar contains one magnum each of Veuve Clicquot vintages 1955, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1969 Rosé, 1975, 1979 Rosé, 1982, 1985, 1988, 1989 Rosé and 1990, with specially designed Vertical Limit labels. All 12 were selected especially for this collection by Jacques Peters, Chef de Caves at Veuve Clicquot.

The auction opens with a collection of First Growths, Pétrus, Ausone and other top-drawer wines. A full case of Margaux 1986 is estimated at £3,200-3,800 per lot (1-2), while the majestic 1996 vintage is estimated to bring £3,200-4,000 per six magnums (4-5). Mouton Rothschild is on offer in large formats of the magnificent 2000 vintage, comprising six magnums (14), and three double magnums (15), each estimated to bring £8,800-10,000 per lot.

Right Bank superstars include Cheval Blanc 1990, considered by Serena Sutcliffe MW, Honorary Chairman, Sotheby’s Wine, to be 'one of the greatest Cheval Blancs'. A 12-bottle case carries an estimate of £5,500-6,500 (3). Equally tempting is the ‘voluptuous’ Ausone 2000, available in six-bottle and six-magnum lots, estimated respectively at £3,000-4000 (19) and £6,000-8,000 (20).

Prime Pétrus boasts the 'beautifully delineated' 2001 vintage, in six-bottle and three-magnum offerings, estimated at £6,500-8,000 per lot (60-62). Six-bottle parcels of the 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006 vintages range in estimate from £5,200-6,500 upwards to £6,500-8,500 per lot (63-75).

White Bordeaux is distinguished by Laville Haut Brion and Haut Brion Blanc in vintages spanning 2004 through to 2008, with six-bottle offerings of Haut Brion Blanc 2005 estimated to bring £2,400-2,800 per lot (52-53).

Another private collection features a superb selection of Domaine de la Romanée Conti from the great 1969 vintage, comprising Romanée Conti, estimated at £13,500-15,000 per four bottles (85), and La Tâche, estimated at £11,000-13,000 (86) per 10 bottles, and £3,200-4,000 per magnum (87). Illustrated left.

A small but excellent private collection of top 1980s Bordeaux includes Lafite, Haut Brion and Pétrus from the legendary 1982 vintage (99, 100 & 103).

A further collection is highlighted by 12-bottle-lot parcels of the 'wonderfully complex' Mouton Rothschild 2006, estimated at £2,600-3,400 per lot (108-117), and Lafite 2008, estimated at £4,200-5,500 per lot (118-122), together with parcels of Burgundy from Dominique Laurent (123-170). This selection includes Grands Echézeaux Vieilles Vignes 2003 and Bonnes Mares Vieilles Vignes 2004 which carry estimates of £700-900 and £550-650 per six bottles respectively (140-141, 149-158).

Henri Jayer, Pétrus and Yquem form the centrepieces of a collection formed by a renowned Continental wine writer. The Yquem on offer spans vintages from 1936 through to 1989, with a single bottle of the sublime 1945 vintage, estimated at £1,250-1,500 (192). Further Yquem elsewhere in the sale includes the 'flawless perfection' of the 1947 vintage, with a single bottle carrying an estimate of £1,100-1,500 (361).

The Pétrus in this collection features the “twin” standout 2009 and 2010 vintages, estimated at £1,500-2,000 per bottle (203-204). From Henri Jayer, Vosne Romanée Cros Parantoux 1990 and 1993 are estimated respectively at £3,800-4,600 and £2,400-3,000 per bottle (208-210, 211-213).

Highlights from a private cellar on the Continent include the great Latour 2000, in six-bottle cases estimated at £2,800-3,200 per lot (233-234, illustrated on page 2), while a bijou collection of Bordeaux includes a full case of Margaux 1990, a 'true First Growth beauty', estimated to bring £5,500-6,800 (290).

Another Continental cellar focusses on classic Bordeaux, including Haut Brion 1961, estimated at £7,200-8,500 per nine bottles (267, illustrated left), and Lafite and Pétrus in the 1978 vintage, estimated respectively at £1,250-1,500 and £4,400-5,200 per six bottles (273, 275).

An eclectic collection of Rhône, Champagne, Italian, California and Australian wines presents outstanding names from these wine-producing regions and nations, including Guigal, Chapoutier, Paul Jaboulet Aîné, Dom Pérignon, Krug, Gaja, Bruno Giacosa, Joseph Phelps Vineyards and Clarendon Hills. From the Ornellaia estate in Tuscany, a small parcel of the 2009 vintage is estimated to bring £850-1,050 per 12 bottles (571-573), while Guigal’s “La Las” – La Landonne, La Mouline and La Turque – and Ermitage Rouge Ex Voto, are on offer in the 1989, 2006, 2009 and 2010 vintages (370-400). Further “La Las” in the sale include an excellent offering of the 2007 and 2008 vintages (362-367).

Elsewhere, Italian superstar Sassicaia is on offer in 12-bottle cases of the 1994, 1996, 1998 and 2001 vintages, with estimates starting at £850-950 per lot (320-323).

Champagne enthusiasts will be drawn to an 11-bottle vertical of Taittinger Collection, with vintages ranging from 1978 to 2000, estimated at £1,250-1,600 (226).

Very rare landmark Port showcases a bottle of the ‘divine and seemingly eternal’ Taylor 1927, estimated at £400-500 (670), and Quinta do Noval Nacional 1962/63, available in single-bottle and two-bottle lots, estimated respectively at £700-900 (672), and £1,400-1,800 (673-674).