New York-area wine shop Zachys holds its inaugural auction on 25-26 October, showcasing French and California reds from Scandia, the legendary Los Angeles celebrity-spotting restaurant.
The 1,574-lot sale, at Manhattan restaurant Daniel, features 199 lots from the paparazzi hangout, which was as famous as the departed Brown Derby, Romanoff’s and Chasen’s. Scandia served gravlax and Swedish meatballs to the likes of Rita Hayworth, Gary Cooper, Marilyn Monroe and Marlene Dietrich.
After Margie and Robert E Petersen closed Scandia in 1989, they stored perhaps 40,000 reds under refrigeration. The lots they gave Zachys cover 1955 to 1989. The lots emphasize Bordeaux from 1966, 1970, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1982, 1985 and 1986, and California cabernets from 1968 through 1987.
The crisp, stylish catalogue includes such holdings as a bottle of 1870 Lafite Rothschild, $6,000 – $9,000 (€6,088 – €9,132) and a magnum of 1961 Latour à Pomerol, US$9,000 – US$14,000 (€9,132 – €14,206). Abundant Rhône offerings include 12 bottles of J L Chave 1995 Ermitage Cuvée Cathelin, US$6,000 -US$8,000 (€6,088 – €8,118).
Another highlight is 51 cases of Bordeaux from the cellar of Mähler-Besse, the Bordeaux company. The centerpiece is a case of 1945 Mouton-Rothschild, US$50,000 – US$75,000 (€50,736 – €76,103). A 1961 Palmer is offered at US$9,000 – US$12,000 (€9,132 – €12,177). Scandia wines will be offered in future auctions, too.
Zachys, formerly Christie’s Manhattan partner here, is based in Scarsdale, an upscale suburb. It plans further auctions on 6-7 December, andon 7-8 February, 28-29 March and 9-10 May 2003. The auctioneers are Ursula Hermacinski and Fritz Hatton, who were big hits when working for Christie’s.
Written by Howard G Goldberg in New York11 October 2002
