ElBulli Cellar Auction Next Week

The elBullicellar, assembled by Juli Soler and his sommelier team, comprises an eclectic collection of wines that perfectly paired with the restaurant’s extended menus – from sublime Sherries, fine Bordeaux and Burgundy, top Champagne to gems from Catalonia and Ribera del Duero, the best from Rioja, as well as classic Italian, German and Australian wines.

The auctions, which take place on 3^rd April 2013 in Hong Kong and in New York on 26^th April 2013, will benefit the elBulli Foundation - an experimental centre looking at the process of culinary innovation and creativity.

Every bottle in this sale carries an individual “elBulli” sticker that identifies each bottle as direct from the elBulli cellar. There are also 330 bottles signed by the legendary chef, Ferran Adrià, from Domaine de la Romanée Conti (DRC), Latour, Yquem, Vega Sicilia and Pingus.

 The 445 lots of wines to be offered in Hong Kong are estimated at HK$6 – 8 million / US$750,000 – 1million*. The auction begins with over 180 lots of top Burgundy from great producers such as DRC, Domaine Leroy and Domaine des Comtes Lafon. Adding to the list is a selection of Lucien Le Moine wines from the Hospices de Beaune with over 90 lots labelled exclusively for elBulli.

The Bordeaux selection features 30 nine-bottle Duclot Assortments from 2002 to 2007 each presented in their own wooden presentation case, alongside a superb range of First Growths, Pétrus, Le Pin and Yquem in various formats. The Rhône is a major feature on the elBulli list with 85 lots in multiple vintages from the best estates, including Beaucastel, Rayas, Grange des Pères the cultish Vin de Pays de l'Hérault. Also noteworthy is a high quality range of over 50 lots of Spanish wines from elite estates such as Vega Sicilia, Pingus, Alvaro Palacios and Artadi.

Also, Sotheby’s is pleased to announce that additional lots have been added to the auctions. The sale will now include dinner with the famed elBulli chef and a range of memorabilia and equipment that was used in the elBulli kitchen.

Jamie Ritchie, President Sotheby’s Wine, Americas and Asia, said: “We are excited to offer food and wine lovers a chance to enjoy a part of the elBulli experience. In addition to wines from the cellar, the elBulli sales will include equipment, memorabilia and experiences all sold to benefit the charitable foundation founded by Chef Ferran Adrià. You might not have been able to go to the restaurant but a small part of elBulli is now available to enjoy in your home kitchen!”

The highlight of these new lots is the chance to enjoy dinner with Ferran Adrià who is widely recognised as the world’s most famous and greatest chef (opening bid: HK$40,000 / US$5,000). Four elBulli chefs jackets signed by Adrià are also available (opening bid: HK$8,000 / US$1,000 per jacket) as well as a set of elBulli knives (opening bid: HK$8,000 / US$1,000), and a large number of menus, wine lists and other pieces of elBulli stationary (opening bid: HK$2,000 / US$250 each).

The food at elBulli has been widely recognised as revolutionary, introducing the world to the concept of techno-emotional gastronomy and setting new standards for restaurants around the world. Much of this unique food could only be served using equipment especially designed for the restaurant, several examples of which will be offered in the auctions including Mesh Trays (opening bid: HK$1,000 / US$150 per set) and Crockery for 2 Spherical Olives (opening bid: HK$1,000 / US$150 per set). 

Many of the pieces of kitchen hardware were designed specifically for use at the restaurant after the elBulli team realised that the equipment available to them was not of the level of the food that would be served on it. Examples of these unique pieces which were created by designers in both Barcelona and Switzerland include Baroque Metal Trays (opening bid: HK$1,000 / US$150 per set) and Corrugated Trays (opening bid: HK$2,000 / $250 per set). The structure of meals at elBulli was always important and this meant Petit Fours at the end of lunch or dinner. As they were essential to any elBulli meal, crockery was designed on which to serve them, several examples of which are available, each with an opening bid of HK$500 / US$50 each.

HIGHLIGHTS

Major Lot:

Dinner with Ferran Adrià at Tickets restaurant in Barcelona (http://www.ticketsbar.es/web/en/)

Opening bid: HK$40,000 / US$5,000

Major Wine Lots:

BURGUNDY:

Romanée Conti 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Est. HK$260,000 – 380,000 / US$32,500 – 47,500 (3 bottles)

Montrachet 2000 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

Est. HK$100,000 – 140,000 / US$13,000 – 18,000 (5 bottles)

La Tâche 1990 *Bottle signed by Ferran Adrià

Est. HK$70,000 – 100,000 / US$9,000 – 13,000 (3 bottles)

Clos de la Roche 1999 Domaine Leroy *Bottle signed by Ferran Adrià

Est. HK$55,000 – 80,000 / US$7,000 – 10,000 (12 bottles)

BORDEAUX:

Groupe Duclot Assortment 2005

Est. HK$46,000 – 70,000 / US$6,000 – 9,000 (9 bottles)

Château Latour 2005 *Bottle signed by Ferran Adrià

Est. HK$55,000 – 80,000 / US$7,000 – 10,000 (12 bottles)

Château Pétrus 1982

Est. HK$85,000 – 130,000 / US$11,000 – 17,000 (1 double magnum - 3 litre)

RHÔNE:

Château de Beaucastel, Hommage à Jacques Perrin 2004

Est. HK$13,000 – 18,000 / US$1,600 – 2,250 (12 bottles)

Vin de Pays de l'Hérault, Domaine de la Grange des Pères 2000

Est. HK$6,000 – 8,000 / US$700 – 1,000 (12 bottles)

SPAIN:

Pingus 2001

Est. HK$32,000 – 42,000 / US$4,000 – 5,500 (12 bottles)

Vega Sicilia, Único 1975

Est. HK$13,000 – 18,000 / US$1,600 – 2,250 (2 magnums)

L'Ermita 2005 Alvaro Palacios

Est. HK$26,000 – 36,000 / US$3,250 – 4,500 (12 bottles)

Rioja, Artadi El Pison 2007 Viñedos Lacalle y Laorden

Est. HK$12,000 – 16,000 / US$1,500 – 2,000 (12 bottles)