Lyric Opera Of Chicago’s Wine Auction 2009

Major American wines, all first-growth Bordeaux chateaux and distinguished vintages represented in an auction of exceptional depth and quality.

Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Wine Auction 2009 will take place on Friday, March 6, 2009, at the historic Civic Opera House in Chicago. This exceptional fundraiser is a project of the Women’s Board of Lyric Opera, and occurs every three years.

Lyric’s Wine Auction 2009 bidding is scheduled to open online Monday, January 12, when the full auction catalog is posted online: www.lyricopera.org . Proceeds go directly to Lyric’s annual campaign, which supports the world-renowned opera company’s activities.

Lyric’s Wine Auction went online for the first time in 2006, and was an overwhelming success, with hundreds of bidders from six countries. Website visitors will be able to view and bid on the entire Wine Auction 2009 catalogue starting Mon., Jan. 12, through March 6, 2009. Wine Auction 2009 will feature an extraordinary array of fine wines, as well as dozens of unique dining opportunities, luxury gifts, travel, and exceptional once-in-a-lifetime experiences. Bids may be submitted for silent and live-auction items to be exercised the evening of the auction.

Distinguished vintages from Bordeaux included in the auction are 1959, 1961, 1966, 1970, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2005. Burgundy vintages include 1961, 1971, 1999, 2003, and 2005. Wine Auction 2009 also encompasses American vintages from the past 20 years including 1997 and 2001; and vintage Champagnes from 1986, 1990, 1992, 1996, and 1998.

Outstanding wine lots have been donated from private cellars and vineyards for Wine Auction 2009. Of special note are:

* One jeroboam each of 1971 Bonnes Mares Grand Cru, 1961 Beaune Premiere Cru Clos des Ursule, and 1999 Montrachet Grand Cru burgundies from Maison Louis Jadot President Pierre-Henry Gagey, Honored Guest of Wine Auction 2009

*A case of 1982 Chateau Haut-Brion and a double-magnum of 2000 La Mission Haut-Brion directly from the Chateaux by Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Honored Guest of Wine Auction 2006

* Highlights from distinguished private collections: 2000 Chateau Mouton Rothschild (case), 1986 Haut Brion (case), 1982 Mouton Rothschild (five bottles), a 1998-2003 vertical of Lafite (six bottles), 1985 Margaux (eight bottles), 1995 Latour (3 magnums), 1959 Pichon Lalande (five bottles), 1985 Petrus (six bottles), 1964 Cheval Blanc (2 bottles)

* Private collector donations of Chateau d’Yquem represented in vintages 1966, 1975, 1988, 1990, 1997, 2001.

* A mixed case of six Maison Louis Jadot Grand Cru magnums, vintage 2005: Corton- Charlemagne, Batard-Montrachet, Chevalier Montrachet, Corton-Pougets, Clos Vougeot, and Clos de la Roche

* Cult American wines from private donations of Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Colgin, Dominus Estate, Bryant Family Vineyard, Arietta, Araujo Estate Eisele Vineyards, Sine Qua Non, Paul Hobbs Winery Beckstoffer-to-Kalon Vineyard.

* Vertical donations of American wines including a 2002-2004 vertical of Bryant Family, 1995-1997 vertical of Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Vineyard, and a magnum 1997-2005 vertical of Hartwell Vineyards

* Classic American wines from vineyards and collectors of Mondavi, Opus One, Caymus Vineyards, Cakebread Cellars, Dalla Valle Vineyards, Duckhorn Vineyards, Joseph Phelps Vineyards, Chateau Montelana Winery, Peter Michael Winery, Terlato Family Vineyards, Staglin Family Vineyard

Complete listings of all wine lots will be available online after January 12, 2009.

Additionally, of special note and of operatic appeal:

* A trip for four as the personal guest of Pierre-Henry Gagey and Maison Louis Jadot at the Hospices de Beaune auction and surrounding festivities (travel included)

* A fighter-pilot adventure flight experience which features a flight in a modern highperformance military jet

* E-Sommelier private-cellar wine management system

* A Napa Valley trip for four, including a VIP tour and tasting at Harlan Estate; plus exceptional wines from the estate (travel included)

* Trip for four to Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Oregon: two nights, three days of unlimited rounds of golf, private air transportation

* Dinner and wine for 20 in the private dining room of Art Smith’s Table Fifty-Two

* Private eight-night safari in South Africa, organized by Cox & Kings

* Dinners for eight to ten with wine pairings at Les Nomades, Everest, and Courtrights

The honored guest for Wine Auction 2009 is Pierre-Henry Gagey, president of Maison Louis Jadot from the Burgundy region of France. As a youth Gagey was exposed to the traditions and culture associated with winemaking. He joined Louis Jadot in 1985, where he served as assistant managing director under his father, Andre Gagey (one of the most respected figures in the Burgundian wine trade) and with Jacques Lardiere, technical director and winemaker for Maison Louis Jadot.

Since becoming president in 1992, Pierre-Henry Gagey has directed the construction of new vinification cellars in Beaune and Beaujolais, the purchase of Chateau des Jacques, and has overseen the creation of the CADUS cooperage. Michael Davis of Hart Davis Hart Wine Co., a Chicago company formed in 2004 by John Hart, Michael Davis, and Paul Hart, to buy and sell rare and fine wines, will once again be on the podium for the live auction portion of Wine Auction 2009. Davis has provided leadership both on and off the podium for each of the eight previous Lyric Wine Auctions. He formerly headed Christie’s Wine Department, and subsequently formed Davis & Company in 1993, which was acquired by Sotheby’s in 1998.

At that time he was appointed senior vice president and co-director of Sotheby’s North American Wine Department. Leslie Hindman founded Leslie Hindman Auctioneers in Chicago in 1982, which quickly grew to be the largest auction house in the Midwest and the fifth largest nationally. The firm was sold to Sotheby’s in 1997, and reopened in 2003.

It is internationally recognized for achieving record prices in its approximately 30 sales each year of Western and Asian fine and decorative art, fine jewelry, vintage couture, antique furniture, books, and manuscripts. Renowned estate auctions have included Arthur Rubloff, Leona Helmsley, Mrs. Robert R. McCormick, Elizabeth Cheney, the Potter Palmer families, Gore Family Memorial Foundation Trust, and the Schwinn family. -- www.lyricopera.org