Wines and Spirits: Upcoming Sales 2007 | News

Wines and Spirits

Upcoming Sales 2007

7 July 2007

GaultMillau Charity Auction in aid of the Fondation Hardy

Hôtel Dassault, 18 September 2007

To mark the publication of their latest French wine guide, GaultMillau are offering for auction the doubles of the bottles submitted for tasting during preparation of their 2008 guide to The Best 5000 French Wines. This is the second time the charity sale has been staged in aid of the Fondation Hardy, devoted to supporting neglected children who suffer from mental deficiencies and are in need of special care.

To provide active help to this worthy cause, GaultMillau, in co-operation with the Wines & Spirits Department at Artcurial – Briest – Le Fur – Poulain – F. Tajan, have decided to offer for sale doubles of the 5000 bottles selected for the 2008 guide.

In all, nearly 200 lots of 24 different bottles will be offered.

Starting price/low estimate for each lot is €150 (0% buyer's premium).

Given the special nature of this auction, there will be no public viewing. Each lot will consist of 24 "surprise" bottles, and buyers are asked to join in with the sale's charitable spirit.

Charity sale in aid of South Africa's Phelophepa health care train

Hôtel Dassault, 10 & 11 October 2007

An exceptional auction of prestigious South African wines in aid of the Phelophepa health care train. The sale will be accompanied by a tasting of South African wines.

The Phelophepa is a former Transnet (South African Rail) train converted for medical use by two dynamic ladies, Lynette Coetzee & Lillian Cingo. The train has various clinic coaches, including a dental clinic, ophthalmology clinic, general health clinic, pediatric clinic and psychology clinic, and a second train is now planned. The specialist on-board team advises village representatives on healthy nutrition and basic health care: rural South Africa boasts only one doctor per 5000 inhabitants, and for the last decade the train has represented a fantastic, indispensable health tool. It exists thanks to donations and volunteer support.
Virtually all funds raised are directly assigned to charitable use. The money is not spent on publicity: communication is solely down to the Phelophepa Angels, as the volunteers in charge of running the Phelophepa are called.

Complementing the sale will be an introduction to South African wines by Allison Bonnett who, as instigator and organizer of this charity auction, is in charge of collecting the lots offered by producers, and writing the catalogue entries.

South African Wines

South African vineyards are among the oldest in the New World. The first vines were planted in 1652, and the first wine bottled in 1659 by Jan van Riebeeck, the Dutch governor of Cape Province. The vineyard expanded significantly after the arrival of 80 French Huguenot families in 1688, including a number of wine-growers.

Today 110,200 hectares are cultivated by 4435 wine-growers and wine is produced by 505 estates and chais. Worldwide, South Africa ranks 15th in terms of land under vines (1.5% of global total) and 10th in terms of wine production (2.8% of global total). Annual domestic consumption remains a modest 9.3 litres per head. Following the opening of the country's economy 11 years ago, after the end of apartheid, exports now account for 33.6% of production.

The terroir of the Western Cape, which accounts for 30% of the country's wine-related jobs, can vary greatly within a single estate. The Wine of Origin system (similar to France's AOC) was introduced in the 1970s, and for over 20 years the best wine-growers have planted grapes best adapted to the soil. Respect for the Integrated Production System, protecting man and the environment (including the management of natural resources like water), is obligatory.

South Africa is the world's leading grower of the Chenin grape, with 19,000 hectares, and also produces Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Chardonnay, Muscat and Colombard (whites); and Cabernet, Shiraz, Cinsault, Pinot Noir and Merlot (reds). South Africa also has its own varietal, Pinotage: a Cinsault/ Pinot Noir hybrid created in the 1920s.

For further information about the sale, please call international wine consultant Allison Bonnett on +33 6 61 23 80 70.

Please note that lots should be collected by donors/purchasers straight after the sale.

The Spirit' Sale: Great Champagnes & Brandies

8 November 2007 (2:15pm) – Maison de La Mutualité, 24 rue St-Victor, 75005 Paris

Outstanding spirits are a symbol of savoir-vivre and an integral component of cultural well-being. Great brandy, when appreciated in moderation, gives incomparable pleasure to the enlightened connoisseur.

Artcurial – Briest – Le Fur – Poulain – F. Tajan are again teaming up this year with the Spirit’ fair to stage a unique auction of great champagnes and brandies.

Wine & Spirits Department

Laurie Matheson and Luc Dabadie form the specialist Wines & Spirits tandem at Artcurial - Briest – Poulain – Le Fur – F. Tajan. The duo delight us with sales of cellars and rare collections, and of ensembles of great vintages and mature wines ready to drink and discover, whose pedigree is always verified.

To Laurie and Luc, it is a matter of honour to offer only bottles from reputed cellars which they have visited and checked for conditions of conservation. They share a passion for wine and spirits, and work in close contact with connoisseurs, collectors and professionals, as well as having extensive knowledge of vineyards. They have personally built up the department, helped by a network that places them among the leading specialists in this type of sale, both in France and abroad.

Laurie Matheson

Laurie Matheson

Laurie Matheson, born in France of Scottish parents, began her wine career in 1984 with the L'Ecluse wine bars (specializing in Bordeaux), where she met Edouard Dabadie of Nicolas. In 1986, after attending courses at the Institut d’œnologie and Steven Spurrier's Académie du Vin in Paris, she was appointed head of exterior relations at Domaine Laroche (Chablis). After a stint as sommelière at the Terminal Elysées restaurant, she became director of the Académie du Vin. A turning-point in her career occurred in 1989 when, along with Edouard Dabadie, she launched a Wine Department for auctioneer Guy Loudmer—at the time, the first "international-style" wine department in France. The duo moved to Poulain-Le Fur in 1997, and subsequently joined Artcurial. When Edouard Dabadie retired in 2003, his son Luc teamed up with Matheson. Now, together, they organize 10 auctions per year exclusively for Artcurial Briest – Poulain – Le Fur – F. Tajan.

Laurie Matheson likes to say that wine is above all a physical passion that she expresses through her work. As well as her activity with Artcurial Briest – Poulain – Le Fur – F. Tajan, she is an official expert (Conseil des Ventes certificate n° 2002-143) and regular writes on wine.

Luc Dabadie

Luc Dabadie

Grandson of the owner of Château Peyros (Madiran) near the Pyrenees, and son of wine professional Edouard Dabadie (former buyer for Nicolas), Luc Dabadie began his career in quite another field: science. After studying plant biology he undertook research into the forestry species used for paper-making, but in 1998 opted for a change in course that led straight to the vineyards – initially with his father, then with his brother at Dyonisos, before joining Laurie Matheson in 2004 to concentrate on auctions. Luc loves wine, from rare bottles to barrels that have reached maturity and are ready to drink. He particularly likes the contact with connoisseurs, and the tension and competitive intensity of the saleroom.

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