Roseberys are delighted to offer over 120 lots of fine wine and Champagne in the upcoming Fine & Decorative auction, led by six bottles of 1982 Château Mouton Rothschild (Pauillac, Bordeaux). In accordance with the tradition established by Baron Philippe de Rothschild of commissioning label designs for the Grand Cru of Château Mouton Rothschild, the label for the 1982 vintage bears a design by the American John Huston, an Academy-award winning Hollywood director of films such as The Maltese Falcon (1941) and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948).

Whether buying as an investment, to build a cellar, or for drinking pleasure, auctions are excellent places to shop for wines. Read this guide for an introduction to buying wines at auction. 

Why should you buy wine at auction? 


Breadth 

A wide variety of wines are available at auction that would be difficult to source in a retail environment. This is especially true of vintages, as supermarkets and wine shops rarely source bottles older than five years. 

Price

Wines can be found at auction for considerably cheaper than their retail counterparts. Wines sold at auction will often be offered as mixed lots, meaning you could try a number of different bottles for the same price as a single case. 


Things to note before buying wine at auction


Environment 

Wines can be stored in temperature-controlled or passive environments. A wine that has been stored in a temperature-controlled environment has been professionally stored in a manner ideal for long-term preservation. 

A passive environment suggests that the wine has not been stored in a temperature-controlled environment, in an underground wine cellar, for example, and left to age on its own. The majority of wines sold at auction will have been stored passively. If the bottles have been stored correctly, out of direct sunlight, it should not affect the quality of the wine. 

Ullage Level 

The ullage level is the level of the wine in the bottle, compared to the level at the neck. It should never be too low on the neck, or below the shoulder of the bottle. Generally, wines below the age of twenty should have high ullage levels. 

Capsule 

Always check if there is any sort of damage to or seepage from the capsule, as this is often an indication the wine has been stored incorrectly. 

Label

Label conditions can be important for buyers looking to display bottles. Older wines can often have small nicks and tears to the labels. This does not affect the quality of the wine overall.

For a condition report or a valuation, please contact a specialist.