Wine Auction Preview

It's time again for the annual Jacoby Agency/Prudential Presents Elegant Vintages Wine Auction, Saturday, March 8 at the downtown Marriott. Seriously, if you're into wine in this town, you can't miss this black tie evening. Attendees will include collectors, wine professionals, buyers, and old-fashioned wine geeks. And what better wine geekery than a live auction (helmed by San Francisco wine auctioneer David Reynolds), huge silent auction and lots of great food. The final items are in and we thought you might like a preview of some of the items you'll find in the live auction. (The full program will lists all lots, extensive tasting notes from Wine Spectator, Robert Parker, and The Burghound along with estimated values.)

Lot 19: A Perfect Pair
1 750 mL 2002, 2003 Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon (2002 and 2003: Robert Parker 100 points)

Lot 23: A Stunning Bordeaux Magnum
1 1.5L Magnum of 2003 Chateau Cos d'Estournel (Robert Parker 98 points)

Lot 29: Kistler Sneak Peek
3 750 mL 2005 Kistler Chardonnay McCrea Vineyard (93-95 points)
3 750 mL 2005 Kistler Chardonnay Vine Hill Vineyard (94-96 points)

Lot 32: Beringer Collectors' Wines
4 750 ml 1991 Beringer Napa Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve (95 points)

Lot 33: Explore L'Explorateur
Dinner for Eight, Multi-Course Chef's Tasting Menu with Some of the Finest Wines in Indy (including a 1990 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame Champagne, 95 points, to start and a 1990 Chateau d'Yquem Sauternes dessert wine, 99 points, to close.)

Lot 35: Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon Collection
1 750 mL 1991, 1995, 2 mL 2001, 1 mL 2002, 2003 Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon (93-97 points)

Lot 36: 6 Rare Bottles of Vintage Champagne
6 750 mL 1990 Henri Giraud Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut (unrated, but highly rare and highly sought -- Parker calls it "the finest Champagne house virtually no one has ever heard of.")

Lot 41: Condrieu Blanc 6-Pack
6 750 mL 2005 Earl George Vernay Coteau de Vernon Condrieu (95 points)

Along with more than 50 live auction lots, you'll find some fun food related prizes (like a food and wine critics package, giving a Zoo elephant an bath and a 10-night, multi-stop trip to Australia and New Zealand including airfare!) And look for fine wines from some Feed Me/Drink Me California favorites like Twisted Oak, BR Cohn, and Kokomo.

Tickets are $150, 200, and 300 including a five-course dinner and wine. Each guest is also asked to bring a bottle of "desirable" wine for an The Instant Cellar auctioned blind. (Last year's lot included some real superstars.)

Tickets are available online. We hope to see you there -- it will be a night to remember (or not, depending on how much wine you drink. Special rates are available at the Marriott.)