Irish singer-songwriter Chris de Burgh is best known for his songs. From the low-key success of his Spanish Train album to Lady in Red, which was one of the most famous love songs of the 1980s, his music has become the soundtrack of a generation.
His love of fine wines is less well known, yet the sale of his extraordinarily extensive collection has created a great deal of interest in the famously selective world of wine.
The sale of the de Burgh cellar will take place in Christie’s, London on March 24th at 10:30am, an auction that will doubtless receive a considerable amount of publicity, due both to the vendor’s celebrity status and the undeniable excellence of the products under the hammer.
Chris de Burgh’s parents ran a castle hotel in south-east Ireland, employing their son as a waiter and it was during this period that he developed a keen interest in fine wines. Musical success meant financial security and the freedom to assemble an especially impressive cellar that includes a full 12-bottle case of Château Lafite-Rothschild, vintage 1945 which alone is estimated at £12,000-£16,000. This case has been lovingly maintained and is presented in the original straw that has been protecting the bottles since the year in which World War Two ended.
It is reported to be de Burgh’s favourite lot, yet it is not the most valuable. That honour goes to a collection of 62 magnums of Château Mouton-Rothschild, which is estimated to be worth £70,000-£90,000.
As with his ladies, de Burgh clearly prefers his bottles of red, since a very high percentage of the lots comprise Bordeaux and some particularly fine Burgundies.
Of particular sentimental value to the singer is his prized collection of rare and mature Château d’Yquem, the wine that he claims to have first sparked his interest.
Despite the sale of his most prized bottles, it is likely that de Burgh’s obsession will continue, albeit in a less spatially extravagant form!
Rimontgo has this fabulous country estate with its own wine producing vineyards for sale in La Rioja.
