Live Auction: 3 October 2022 • 2:00 PM HKT • Hong Kong
Foreword by Serena Sutcliffe, MW
Honorary Chairman Sotheby’s Wines
W e are privileged to be offering a second magnificent collection of wine from Sir Dickson Poon, whose association with vinous quality has been a hallmark of his life. The search has always been for the best, concentrating on the proven classics, but also in acquiring and enjoying superb wines that were initially not as well-known as the centuries-old French properties. The result is a mouth-watering array of irresistible treasures from extraordinary vineyard sites and landmark vintages. Every wine in this glittering sale can be put on the table following delivery (just let them rest a few weeks please…), with the only exception being the splendid Trotanoy 2010, where a little patience might be required for it to attain its tasting apogee.
The Bordeaux First Growths, and their Right Bank equivalents, radiate beauty, with a particular plethora of the immensely winning 1990 vintage. Lafite, Latour, Haut Brion and Cheval Blanc lead the way, but then there is Cos d’Estournel, Troplong Mondot and Beauséjour Duffau vying for your attention. For reasons that escape me, I have been lucky enough to savour Lafite 1990 a few times this year and it strikes me that it is only just getting into its stride, in that inimitable Lafite way. If you stray into 1989 territory, do not miss the tempting Margaux of this year. Amongst the fabulous 1996s, so tremendous for the Cabernet Sauvignon in this vintage, Latour is a total stand-out.
One should pay homage here to the phenomenal line-up of Petrus, resplendent in six decades and giving the opportunity for some of the wine world’s most astonishing comparisons – think 1970 and 1971 and 1989 and 1990. I long ago gave up on the ‘game’ of deciding which vintage is ‘better’ than the other, as it takes away from the utter delight of each wine, the depth of bouquet and flavour that wine at this level demonstrates. Sensational experiences are very precious and Petrus provides them.
California has always featured in the cellar of this collector, with favourites being the glossy Bryant Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Joseph Phelps Insignia, Peter Michael Cabernet Sauvignon Au Paradis and Christian Moueix’s Dominus, featuring the aromatic 2003 vintage. Every year, I taste the new release of Dominus and marvel at this blend of great California terroir with bordelais brilliance. It is endlessly intriguing and absolutely top-notch.
The ‘hidden gem’ of this collection is Romano Dal Forno’s Amarone della Valpolicella, which I have heard described as ‘unworldly’. I beg to disagree as, happily, these remarkable wines are very much of this world and simply gorgeous with Italian cheeses, winter dishes and sometimes just a plate of fresh walnuts. They line the mouth with richness and inspire great conversation, another wondrous product of wine appreciation!
蘇富比榮幸呈獻潘廸生爵士葡萄酒窖藏的第二部分。潘爵士一向鍾情品質上乘的葡萄美酒，卓爾不群的頂級瑰釀是他所愛，各大名莊經典更是他傾力追尋的目標，即使是一開始口碑稍遜於法國世紀名莊出產的佳釀，他也樂於嘗試。這種兼收並蓄的探索精神，驅使潘爵士搜羅了眾多出自一流酒莊和重要年份的洋酒，匯成一個讓人欲罷不能的饗宴。本次拍賣的每一支洋酒均適合在送達府上後馬上享用（當然請先靜置幾個禮拜），唯一的例外是 Trotanoy 2010年，這瓶妙品大概還需耐心等候一段日子，方可發揮出它的極致風味。
波爾多一級酒莊和右岸出品陣容鼎盛，當中不乏在洋酒界所向披靡的1990年份。拉菲古堡、拉圖堡、侯伯王和白馬堡策力爭先，Cos d’Estournel、Troplong Mondot、Beauséjour Duffau 亦不甘落後。今年，我在機緣巧合之下，曾有幸幾度品嚐過1990年的拉菲瑰釀，爾後驚覺，這款慢熱的葡萄酒正以拉菲古堡獨特的步調，在厚積數十載後邁向完熟的階段。放眼1989年，瑪歌堡顯然是不容錯失的美味。1996年是卡本納蘇維翁表現突出的一年，而拉圖堡的卡本納蘇維翁佳釀尤顯一枝獨秀。
本窖藏的柏翠堡橫跨六十年，包括1970及1971、1989及1990等最妙不可言的年份組合。我在很多年前已經放棄了選出「更好」年份的做法，因為那就像一場兒戲，不但抹殺了每一款酒所帶來的樂趣，而且還忽略了頂級葡萄酒的香氣和味道深度。感官的享受總是來得難能可貴，而柏翠堡絕對不負所望。
提起潘爵士的收藏，加州葡萄酒永遠享有一席之地，他最喜愛的酒款包括 Bryant 家族酒莊的卡本納蘇維翁、Joseph Phelps 酒莊的 Insignia、Peter Michael 酒莊的 Au Paradis 卡本納蘇維翁以及 Christian Moueix 主理下馥郁芳濃的 Dominus 2003年。Dominus 天衣無縫地融合了法國波爾多的釀造哲學以及美國加州絕佳的風土條件，兩者相得益彰，使我每年品嚐 Dominus 的新酒時都感到嘖嘖稱奇 —— 這些精彩絕倫的美釀似乎擁有無限可能，讓人忍不住一探究竟。
另有來自 Romano Dal Forno 酒莊的「遺珠」Amarone della Valpolicella，有人曾將之美譽為「超凡脫俗」，而我對此恐怕難表認同，因為萬幸的是，此酒確是人間造物，它與意大利芝士和冬日菜式、甚至乎是一碟鮮核桃仁都彷如天作之合。濃稠腴滑的酒液充盈口腔，激盪起誘人的火花，不愧是彰顯釀酒工藝的又一漂亮傑作！
Magnificent Bordeaux by Patti Wong
Senior International Chairman
It is a great privilege for us that Sir Dickson Poon should entrust his spectacular collection of wines to Sotheby’s for auction once again. Sir Dickson is renowned as a titan of the luxury retail and industry. His global network includes Dickson Concepts established in 1980, Harvey Nichols in London, ST Dupont of Paris, as well as more than 60 stores in Asia.
Provenance
The vast majority of these wines were purchased from trusted UK merchants - many were purchased on release and remain in their original cases. A smaller number of the wines were acquired from auctions, including Sotheby’s.
Storage
Wines in the UK were stored under ideal storage conditions at a bonded warehouse in the UK, prior to inspection. Wines in Hong Kong were stored in a private temperature controlled facility.
Inspection and Shipping
Wines in the UK were shipped were shipped in a dedicated air shipment directly to Crown Wine Cellars. Wines in Hong Kong were packed by Sotheby’s HK Specialists and delivered to Crown Wine Cellars by a dedicated temperature controlled truck. All wines were inspected at Crown Wine Cellars.
All bottles have commemorative sticker on the back of the bottle to celebrate the special provenance from this sale.
