Chirac's Cellar Goes to South America

On the day Jacques Chirac left office as President of France, an elite selection of wines he collected while Mayor of Paris was sold for $600,000 to a South American businessman by the Antique Wine Company of London.

London, England (PRWEB) June 9, 2007 -- On the very day French President Jacques Chirac left the Elysée Palace The Antique Wine Company (www.antique-wine.com) finalised a deal with a South American businessman, who acquired the finest bottles from the Paris City Hall wine cellar, amassed during Chirac's time as Mayor of the French Capital.

Sold off by the current socialist mayor Bertrand Delanoe, the intention was for the cellar to be split up bottle by bottle, enabling the people of Paris to purchase individual items as a souvenir of Chirac's regime. However, in the extraordinary frenzy of media attention, as the French vied with English, American, Chinese and Russian buyers, Antique Wine recognised a greater potential: to purchase and assemble the finest examples from the cellar as a unique collection.

In line with Antique Wine Company's practice of ensuring its customers get maximum enjoyment from their wine, the company also commissioned Linley, the renowned London design studio owned by Viscount Linley, to create a scale model Paris City Hall case, crafted in the finest precious woods.

Stephen Williams, Founder of the Antique Wine Company, comments: "Our main business is not only supplying but also managing every detail of our clients wine cellars. In developing close relationships with them, we notice a common feature is that they like to have fun with wine, enjoying the very best vintages to enhance entertainment for their dinner guests and add cultural value to their social life. This moment in French history rang all the right bells for us, and gave us the opportunity to offer one client something rare and precious.

"The stunning level of interest in the Paris City Hall Cellar from around the world has inspired us to create another remarkable offering in conjunction with Linley. This will be a very limited edition of similar hand crafted scale model cabinets featuring each of the five first growth Bordeaux chateaux, each containing the top six exceptional vintages of the century. The limited edition is expected to sell for around $250,000."

This is all exciting news for the world's serious wine aficionados, but hasn't Stephen Williams forgotten one little thing? Not to put too fine a point on it, but what exactly did Chirac's Cellar fetch? "Oh that," says Williams airily, "a cool £300,000 ($600,000)."

Visit the dedicated microsite: http://paris-city-hall-cellar.antique-wine.com

Notes to Editors:

High-resolution photos of the collection, the Linley cabinet and of Stephen Williams, founder of the Antique Wine Company, can be downloaded at the following link: http://www.antique-wine.com/a-img/press/private.htm

THE ANTIQUE WINE COMPANY PARIS CITY HALL CELLAR COLLECTION

(362 bottles featured in the collection)

Bordeaux, Pauillac
36 1996 Lafite Rothschild
12 1986 Mouton Rothschild
6 1989 Mouton Rothschild
       
Bordeaux, Margaux
27 1990 Margaux
36 1995 Margaux
18 1996 Margaux
       
Bordeaux, Pessac Leognan
12 1982 Haut Brion
18 1985 Haut Brion
6 1986 Haut Brion
12 1988 Haut Brion
42 1989 Haut Brion
6 1990 Haut Brion
24 1994 Haut Brion
24 1995 Haut Brion
       
White Bordeaux, Pessac Leognan
6 1990 Haut Brion Blanc
       
Bordeaux, Pomerol
18 1987 Petrus
8 1988 Petrus
1 1989 Petrus
5 1990 Petrus
6 1992 Petrus
4 1993 Petrus
8 1994 Petrus
6 1995 Petrus
2 1996 Petrus
2 1997 Petrus
5 1998 Petrus
       
Burgundy, Côtes de Nuits
4 1986 DRC, La Tache
2 1986 DRC, Romanée Conti
       
Champagne   
6 1976 Krug

The Antique Wine Company www.antique-wine.com

The Antique Wine Company has had the privilege of advising, negotiating and concluding many of the world's most interesting fine wine transactions. Established over 25 years ago, the London-based company specialises in sourcing vintages over 150 years old, as well as providing fine contemporary wines for the avid collector.

Company founder Stephen Williams is an authority on fine and rare wines and wine investment and he regularly comments in the media on topical issues such as counterfeit bottles and the new markets for fine wine. To request an interview with Stephen, please contact Rosalind Cooper at the Antique Wine Company.

The sale of the Paris City Hall Cellar Collection follows the announcement of the sale of the Chateau Lafite Rothschild Collection (http://lafite-collection.antique-wine.com) and the world's largest collection of Chateau d'Yquem (http://yquem.antique-wine.com) sold by The Antique Wine Company in December 2006 to the Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat for £775,000 (1.5 million US dollars).

Media contact:    Rosalind Cooper at The Antique Wine Company

Phone: +44 (0)207 359 1109
Mobile: +44 (0)7931 339042

Email: roz @ antique-wine.com

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