Christies. What did you win?

[Justin A]

Would love to hear how everyone did.

[Jim S.]

Hi Justin-

It was a tough crowd. With absentee bids, I was only successful on three lots, for a total of four bottles. That was out of 16 lots.

Lot 460- 2 bottles 1894 H&H Malmsey Founder's Solera Extra Choice-- $735

Lot 479- 1 bottle 1907 D'Oliveiras Malvasia Reserva-- $367.50

Lot 514- 1 bottle 1950 1950 Jayme Polycarpo d'Abreu Malvasia-- $183.75

[Eric Ifune]

2 bottles of the 1850 J Lomelino Bual
1 bottle of the 1860 Borges Sercial
1 bottle of the 1860 Borges Terrantez
1 bottle of the 1862 Borges Terrantez
1 bottle of the 1907 Quinta da Consolacao Malvasia Roxo.

[Andreas Platt]

2xH&H Ribeiro Real (Verdelho) Reserva
2xH&H Sercial Reserva

[Alan Gardner]

1843 Vinho da Madeira
1917 Bual, Barbeito
1918 Verdelho, Barbeito
1928 Seco Colheita, A Isidro Gonsalves
1959 Malmsey
late 19C Vinho Velho Madeira

All single bottles (and 5 of the 6 went for my absentee bidder maximum bid).

[Alan Gardner]

I recently received Spam (probably with Trojan/Virus) purportedly from Christie's about a document (?credit) posted to Dropbox.
These is DEFINITELY not from Christie's (despite a return address at Christies.com).Not sure if they've been hacked or just a lucky shot-in-the-dark that I was a Christie's client.
Either way, BEWARE!

[Justin A]

Thanks for the heads up Alan. Perhaps it is some kind of software that holds your computer files for ransom madeira bottles!

[Alan Gardner]

Nah - I've already had that one.
Fortunately I had backup madeiras.

[Justin A]

Alan,
BTW. I had that 1917 Barbeito on the island. It has a paper label, correct? Cork completely crumbled due to it being stored upright for decades. I popped and poured which was a big mistake. Lots of bottle stink. Needs days of decanting.

[Alan Gardner]

I haven't managed to get the bottle back to Canada yet. We have this quaint post-prohibition mentality that won't allow ANY importation of alcohol except through a complex importation process involving a 70% markup and only being able to use an 'authorized' customs broker (of which there's only 1 in Ontario, who can charge an extortionate fee). Exceptions are personally carrying the items - then one only has to pay the 70% markup. BUT 2 bottles allowed 'free' per crossing per person.
But, the bottle is planned for an Xmas 2017 event - so plenty of time, and I'll be sure to decant well ahead.
Thanks for the advice.