Chirac's Wines Up For Sale

The Antique Wine Company (antique-wine.com) is offering one fortunate wine collector the opportunity to acquire a unique collection of fine wines amassed by Jacques Chirac during his time as Mayor of Paris. Bids open from today on this assemblage of exceptional wine, personally selected for Chirac across his years in mayoral office, from 1977-1995.

Many of these wines were selected for banquets with invited Royalty or Heads of State and each bottle bears an identifying neck label, assuring the buyer of its authenticity.

The original auction, in October 2006, of 5,000 bottles from this cellar attracted extraordinary media attention, as the French vied with English, American, Chinese and Russian buyers to acquire these exceptional bottles.

Stephen Williams, Founder of the Antique Wine Company, fought off opposition to acquire all of the highest rated wines in the cellar, which is now being made available as a single entity and can be viewed at The Antique Wine Company’s microsite: http://paris-city-hall-cellar.antique-wine.com.

Some of the remarkable wines from the Paris City Hall Cellar include:

• Domaine de la Romanée Conti 1986
• Rare vintages of Ch. Lafite Rothschild, Ch. Haut Brion and Ch. Petrus
• Krug Champagne 1976

Stephen Williams comments “Coinciding with the departure of M Chirac from his office as President, this is sure to attract massive interest across the wine world. At this time of dramatic political change in France, this collection of iconic wine symbolises the power and prestige that attached to Chirac over his many decades in office. It will be a valuable and historic asset for the purchaser.”

The importance of the collection will be further enhanced with the creation of a unique and beautiful architectural case created by Linley, the bespoke British furniture company established by Viscount Linley. This lovely piece is an elegant model of the Paris City Hall itself, executed in a variety of unusual woods such as grey sycamore, and with secret compartments concealing the most valuable bottles.

Offers for the collection are invited in excess of £200,000. The sale of the collection will be undertaken in a negotiation process only open to registered and verified bidders via the Antique Wine Company microsite: http://paris-city-hall-cellar.antique-wine.com