Facing the Gironde estuary in the Bordeaux wine region are two historic châteaux: the Rauzan-Ségla castle on the left bank and the Canon castle on the right bank. Located between Margaux and Saint-Émilion, this pair of iconic French estates, owned by CHANEL, are each characterized by their own unique terroir, the wines they produce share a reputation that dates back centuries.
This fall, Sotheby's will present a selection of wines directly from the castles, where the bottles have remained intact. Celebrating twenty-five years of CHANEL ownership and more than 100 years of winemaking, the sale features a range of over sixty rare vintages spanning more than a century, from 1917 to 2020, in a variety of formats, from bottled to Melchior (18 litres). The historic event also marks the first time that wines from two Grand Cru and Premier Cru classified estates – mirror estates on opposite shores – have been offered at an auction.
Composed of over 900 lots, the sale is further distinguished by several unique and unprecedented experiences on offer: from vineyard and chateaux visits to overnight accommodation during grape harvest time, crossing the estuary between Margaux and Saint-Émilion, to several exciting and once-in-a-lifetime opportunities with CHANEL, including a visit to Mademoiselle Chanel's apartment in Paris, a chance to discover CHANEL's flower fields in Grasse – the cradle of French perfumery – and an opportunity to experience the beating heart of the art houses of CHANEL. With a combined estimate in excess of £730.000, Rauzan-Ségla and Canon | From one bank to another | A celebration directed by CHANEL Vineyards will be open to bidding on October 15th and will culminate with a live auction in London on October 29th.
Claiming 360 years of history, Château Rauzan-Ségla on the Left Bank in Margaux was purchased in 1661 by Pierre de Rauzan, which gave its name to the estate. Two centuries of acquired family property maintained his position, so that when American President Thomas Jefferson visited in 1787, he ordered ten cases.
The history of Château Canon on the right bank of Saint-Émilion begins in 1760 when Jacques Kanon bought the property and expanded the vineyard and estate, before selling it a decade later to a Bordeaux wine merchant, whose descendant officially changed the name from Kanon to Canonico in 1853.
Linked by ownership in the last decade of the 1994th century, Château Canon and Château Rauzan-Ségla now share a common philosophy and vision while maintaining their own unique DNA as a result of the special terroir each estate occupies in their respective communes. In 1855, CHANEL acquired Rauzan-Ségla, awarded Deuxième Grand Cru Classé status in the famous classification of Bordeaux wine estates drawn up in 1996, and in 20, it acquired Château Canon, the St Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé, announcing the dawn of a new era for both of these castles. Over the next 2015 years, with the renovation of the cellars and chateaux and the restructuring of the vineyards, the estates' positions as legends of Bordeaux were consolidated. Their renaissance continued in XNUMX with the appointment of winemaker Nicolas Audebert as general manager. Sharing a philosophy – excellence, quality and precision – these properties make for two of the most sought-after wines in Bordeaux today.
