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Three bottles of 1985 Vosne Romanee Cros Parantoux Henri Jayer from Enoteca Pinchiorri 's wine cellar have been sold to a mysterious wine enthusiast for $98,561: the highest bid commanded at the recent wine auction held by Zachys in London of 'Enoteca Pinchiorri: The Legendary Cellar.'
The treasure trove from Florence's historic and award-winning three-Michelin-starred restaurant, led with passion by Giorgio Pinchiorri and Annie Féolde, was put under the hammer by the leading American wine auction house, making its debut in Europe.
The decision to auction the most valuable bottles from a collection put together over 50 years of meticulous and passionate research was publicised in recent weeks, when owner Pinchiorri declared that he had kissed and wept over each and every one of the 2500 bottles, divided into 864 lots, departing for the UK.
The three-bottle batch of Vosne Romanee Cros Parantoux Henri Jayer 1985 even surpassed what was the supposed flagship lot, namely two magnums of Vosne Romanee Cros Parantoux Reserve Henri Jayer 1999, whose reserve price was $79,484, and which instead went for $90,347.
In third place was a former three-way fair: Henri Jayer again starring with two magnums of Richebourg - one from 1979 and one from 1982 - along with a 1990 Magnum, Musigny Georges Roumier. All three of these lots were sold for $62,422.
All 864 lots went for an estimated base value of two million dollars, which included legendary labels and memorable old vintages, but also, for example, a collection of aquavites bottled in precious hand-blown Murano glass and many, many other goodies.
After all, the wealthy enthusiasts who managed to win one of the lots under the hammer at Zachys have undoubtedly taken home not only one or more collectibles but also an authentic piece of Italian and world food and wine history.
When the news of the London auction was announced at the end of August, Pinchiorri categorically denied rumours that the restaurant was in economic difficulty linked to the coronavirus pandemic, and instead cited the long and meticulous work that had preceded the operation, reiterating that the idea was born in synergy with Zachys by virtue of a partnership based on mutual esteem and aimed at the equally mutual return of image.
There are now 2500 pieces of true Florentine heart scattered in hundreds of fine wineries, ready to be freed into very some happy glasses.
