The oldest wine merchant in the UK, founded in 1698, has recently revealed its plans to enter the online wine auction scene.
Berry Bros & Rudd is set to launch its first auction on 28 October, showcasing a private collection from Ian Mill KC.
This distinguished barrister has dedicated decades to curating a collection of Burgundy wines, which spans from 1955 to 2020.
His collection prominently features red wines from celebrated vintages such as 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1999, and 2002, as well as white wines from the 1970s up to the early 1990s. Additionally, it includes remarkable wines from the notable recent vintages of 2014 and 2017.
This collection showcases wines from the most esteemed producers in the area, including Armand Rousseau, Georges Roumier, René Engel, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Dujac, François Raveneau, Coche-Dury, Domaine Leflaive, Comtes Lafon, and Arnaud Ente.
In addition to Burgundy, the collection highlights vintage Champagne from renowned names such as Krug, Dom Perignon, and Cedric Bouchard, along with highly coveted lots from distinguished producers like Ridge in California and Jamet in Côte-Rotie.
Geordie Willis, director of new ventures for Berry Bros & Rudd, described it as ‘a selection of extraordinary wines’ from a ‘renowned collection’.
He expressed, ‘We have maintained a long-standing and close relationship with Ian, and we are honored and thrilled that he has entrusted us with the sale of this portion of his collection.’
Mill has developed strong personal connections with producers in Burgundy and has been a loyal client of BB&R for two decades.
He has curated an extensive array of bottles for sale, all of which have been meticulously inspected by Philip Moulin, the fine wine quality and authentication manager at BB&R.
Mill expressed his pleasure by saying: ‘I am thrilled to have the opportunity to present a selection of bottles from my collection to aid in the launch of BB&R’s new wine auction initiative. This strategic move into a different market is undoubtedly a wise decision, and I am excited to collaborate with their experienced team.’
Bidding is set to commence on 28 October, with the online auction concluding on 6 November.