Top New York restaurant Le Cirque is auctioning rare bottles of Margaux, Petrus and Yquem in a bid create more storage space in its cellars.
The restaurant, in the city’s East Side area, is selling hundreds of bottles through Nywines/Christie’s at its 17 November sale. The majority of the wines, which come to 170 lots, were held in the 8.2m (27 feet) glass and steel cellar in the centre of the restaurant’s café.
Highlights of the collection include cases of 1959 Château Margaux (estimated at US$20,000, £12,300), 1982 Château Mouton-Rothschild ($18,000, £11,000), 1995 Château Pétrus (US$20,000) and 1967 Château d’Yquem (US$18,000).
Owner Sirio Maccioni says the proceeds will go to refreshing his wine list and to pave the way for more recent vintages.
Maccioni has played host to the rich and famous for almost three decades. Past diners include Henry Kissinger, Woody Allen and King Juan Carlos of Spain.
Bidders at the auction will also be offered a US$395 (£243) four-course dinner.
Written by Howard G Goldberg in New York
