One of the world’s most exclusive wine collections is about to go to auction. A renowned anonymous musician and composer is putting more than 300 bottles from his private cellar up for sale, featuring an impressive selection of German Rieslings and Burgundy wines.
The auction of the wine bottles, titled “The Melodic Cellar: A Musician’s Life in Wine,” will be held online by Bonhams until February 26.
A collection built over decades
For more than 50 years, this California collector has acquired rare bottles from retailers and auctions in the Bay Area, primarily in the 1970s and 1980s. One of the highlights of the sale is a 1964 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) bottle, signed by the winery’s co-directors, Aubert de Villaine and Marcelle “LaLou” Bize-Leroy. This exclusive label, in a three-liter bottle, was originally presented at a special DRC dinner on the West Coast before being acquired by the musician. It is now expected to fetch between $50,000 and $60,000.
The iconic Domaine de la Romanée-Conti appears multiple times in the auction catalog, including a three-liter bottle of 1971 Romanée-Conti, valued between $100,000 and $120,000. Another standout is a six-liter bottle of 1971 Richebourg, expected to fetch between $70,000 and $90,000.
A passion for Rieslings
In addition to Burgundy wines, the anonymous collector also has a remarkable passion for rare German Rieslings, which are expected to draw significant bids. Some of the most coveted lots include:
- Three bottles of Egon Müller Scharzhofberger TBA 1976 – estimated between $12,000 and $16,000
- Three bottles of JJ Prüm Wehlener Sonnenuhr TBA 1959 – valued in the same range of $12,000 to $16,000
- Six bottles of Schloss Vollrads TBA 1959 – expected to reach between $9,500 and $12,000
The collector’s legacy
According to Marie Keep, director of wines and spirits at Bonhams Americas, this collection reflects not only a love for wine but also an artistic spirit.
“Passion is the key to the collector’s focus, both in music and in wine. He started as a drummer before exploring other forms of musical expression. In wine, his instinct was strong in building a collection that reflects his character – curious, discerning, and generous.”
With extremely rare bottles and historic labels, the musician’s identity remains a mystery, but it will certainly be a topic of speculation among collectors and wine enthusiasts. Until then, it might be the perfect time to open a good bottle and try to guess who might own this incredible cellar.
Source: RobbReport. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
