The Private Cellar of Alexandre de Lur-Saluces Comes to Auction
This auction offers collectors and enthusiasts a unique opportunity to acquire legendary bottles, each carrying a family history and a legacy of craftsmanship that helped define the excellence of French wine.
An exceptional oenological treasure
More than 2,500 bottles — all original, unreconditioned and of impeccable provenance — have been preserved in optimal conditions in the cellars of Château de Fargues. The collection reflects the Marquis’s lifelong passion and uncompromising standards. At its heart lies a remarkable ensemble of Château d’Yquem spanning nearly a century of vintages, from 1928 to 2019, offering a unique panorama of this mythical nectar’s history.
Among these bottles are exceptionally rare vintages such as 1935, 1937 and 1946, alongside modern icons from 1989, 2001 and 2015. The most coveted lots include three half-bottles of Yquem from the legendary 1937 vintage — one of the greatest of the 20th century.
As expert Ambroise de Montigny notes:
“This collection brings together rare vintages of Château d’Yquem, some of which are now virtually impossible to find — including the three half-bottles of 1937.”
The world’s greatest wines
Beyond the treasures of Yquem, the Marquis’s cellar also features some of the most prestigious appellations: Pétrus, Lafite Rothschild, Latour, Haut-Brion, Cheval Blanc, Angélus, Margaux and Palmer, as well as Burgundy jewels such as Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, Richebourg and Montrachet.
Burgundy held a special place in Alexandre de Lur-Saluces’s life. He was born there (in Vendenesse-lès-Charolles), owned woodland in the region, and maintained close ties with his sister Françoise de Mérode (Domaine Prince Florent de Mérode in Ladoix-Serrigny) and Aubert de Villaine, co-director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.
His curiosity and love of viticulture also led him to collect exceptional wines from across the globe — including Vega Sicilia, Tokaji, and grand crus from Alsace, Germany, Italy and California — offering collectors a rare journey through the world’s most celebrated vineyards..
The legacy of a great lineage
Born into a family that has shaped the history of Sauternes for over two centuries, Alexandre de Lur-Saluces devoted his life to upholding and embodying the excellence of great wines. After studying law and business at EDHEC, he joined his uncle Bertrand de Lur-Saluces at Château d’Yquem, taking over its direction in 1968 while managing Château de Fargues, a family estate since the 15th century.
Charismatic, exacting and visionary, he was deeply attached to sharing his passion with friends and fellow winemakers — among them Aubert de Villaine of Romanée-Conti — illustrating the profound connection between man and the land that gives birth to the world’s greatest wines.
Daguerre’s sale at Hôtel Drouot in the heart of Paris marks a historic moment — an event uniting history, prestige and passion. A truly unmissable auction.
Click here to download the English version of the press release.
