CHRISTIE’S TO AUCTION SELECTION OF RARE INGLENOOK WINES

FROM FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA’S PRIVATE COLLECTION

Highlights of the auction include two bottles of the legendary
1941 Inglenook and a bottle of the 1935 Vintage

NEW YORK, NY – Earlier this year, California wine expert James Laube wrote that “Inglenook is to Napa what Margaux is to Bordeaux – one of wine’s crown jewels.” On September 24th, Christie’s New York will offer wine collectors a rare opportunity to bid for some of these “crown jewels,” as the auction house presents a special selection of legendary bottles direct from the private cellar of Inglenook owner Francis Ford Coppola, including two bottles of the legendary 1941 vintage.

This autumn’s auction coincides with a particularly exciting period for Inglenook, marked by Francis Ford Coppola’s recent reacquisition of the historic name and the appointment of a new Estate Manager and Winemaker, Philippe Bascaules. Inglenook is an important cornerstone of the Napa Valley. Ever since its inception in 1879, Inglenook founder Gustave Niebaum promised to make wines that would “be sought for by connoisseurs and will command as high a price as the famous French, German and Spanish wines.” His dream was made a reality by the legendary winemaker John Daniel Jr., who produced the estate’s highly acclaimed vintage wines from 1933 to 1964.

Since purchasing the property in 1975, Coppola has tirelessly reconstructed and restored the estate to its former glory. The upcoming auction at Christie’s, appropriately codenamed “Renaissance,” offers fine wine collectors the opportunity to purchase bottles so rare that only a handful remain in the original cellars at Inglenook. To mark the occasion for posterity, successful bidders will receive a handwritten note from Francis Ford Coppola with each bottle purchased, in custom-made wooden box designed specifically for this sale.

These legendary vintages are among the highlights of Christie’s day-long auction on September 24 at its Rockefeller Center saleroom. A truly unique offering is a bottle so rare that the estate would only part with one: the 1935 vintage from the “Golden Era” of John Daniel Jr. wines (estimate: $600 – 800). Equally rare is Lot 56 – a two-bottle lot of the celebrated 1941 Inglenook Cabernet Sauvignon – a wine James Laube has called “among the greatest red wines ever made” (estimate: $8,000 – 12,000). Christie’s wine specialists agree, noting that the 1941 vintage can rightly take its place among vinous legends like the 1945 Mouton-Rothschild, 1982 Lafite Rothschild, 1900 Margaux, 1961 Latour and 1989 Haut Brion, some of the most celebrated, most valuable and longest lived Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines in the world today.

Also of note is Lot 46, a vertical of 12 key vintages from the years 1946 – 2008 presented in a bespoke wooden case signed by Mr. Coppola (estimate: $3,000 – 4,200). Proceeds from the sale of this special lot will be donated to Shigeru Ban Architects + Voluntary Architects Network, a charity that helps to build temporary housing for tsunami victims in Japan.

“Christie’s is proud to present this exceptional group of Inglenook wines direct from Francis Ford Coppola’s private cellar. All of the wines in this special offering were acquired by Mr. Coppola when he purchased the estate in the 1970s and have remained undisturbed all these years. For our many clients around the world who recognize the significance of these great wines – the true crown jewels of Napa Valley – the upcoming sale is an exciting opportunity to acquire a bit of wine-making legend,” said Christie’s wine specialist Charles Antin. “We can think of no better way to celebrate the restoration of the legendary Inglenook Estate to its original state — a remarkable labor of love that has occupied Mr. Coppola and his wife Eleanor for more than 35 years.”

To view the complete e-catalogue for this sale, please visit: Christie’s Inglenook sale

Auction:
Fine and Rare Wines, Featuring Inglenook from the Private Collection of Francis Ford Coppola – Saturday, September 24 at 10am.
Christie’s Rockefeller Center, New York, NY

Background History of Rubicon and Inglenook
Inglenook Vineyards was founded in 1879 by Gustave Niebaum, a Finnish sea captain who used his enormous wealth to import the best European grapevines to Napa. Over the next several decades under the guidance of the legendary John Daniel, Inglenook built a reputation as the source of some of the finest wines ever made. By 1975, however, when Francis and Eleanor Coppola first purchased part of the famed property, the Inglenook Estate had long since been broken up and its name sold off. The Coppolas spent the next twenty years reuniting the vineyards and restoring winemaking to the historic Inglenook Chateau. Today, in addition to the Cabernet Sauvignon that dominates the Estate, the Inglenook acreage is also planted with Zinfandel, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Syrah, and six acres of white Rhone varietals that produce the estate’s flagship white, Blancaneaux.

Inglenook is now completely restored to original dimensions and is once again America’s great wine estate.

About Christie’s
Christie’s, the world’s leading art business had global auction and private sales in the first half of 2011 that totaled £2.0 billion/$3.2 billion. In 2010 it achieved global auction and private sales of £3.3 billion/$5.0 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour.

Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie’s conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful. Christie’s offers over 450 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from $200 to over $100 million. Christie’s has 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai and Hong Kong. More recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging and new markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai.

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Sales totals are hammer price plus buyer’s premium and do not reflect costs, financing fees or application of buyer’s or seller’s credits.

Images available upon request.