Get a Belly Full of History: Wine Gavel June Auction

I came home last night from the Pre-auction tasting for tomorrow's Wine Gavel live auction with a renewed sense of energy and a belly full of history. Wine Gavel is a newcomer to the high-end auction scene, but every auction gets better and better as they continue to gain momentum. Managing Director, Josh Krummenoehl and Senior Wine Specialist, Matt Carson hosted an amazing auction preview at the SF Wine Center, pouring wines from the Truman era through the reign of Bush II.

Wine Gavel hits the sweet-spot between other auctions filled with off-year odd-lots and the auctions we mortals can't afford. These are wines for wine drinkers. If you have a passion for mature Southern Rhone wines like I do, the June auction is filled with affordable treasures, especially from the stellar 1998 vintage. If you love White Burgundies, there are amazing deals, especially big bottles. And if you go deep into this month's catalog, you just might find something that others are going to overlook.

 It's too late to attend the luncheon for tomorrow's auction at Ame in San Francisco, but you can still register for online bidding.  Next time, you can sign up and come to the pre-auction tasting and get your own sips of history.

Recommended.

Some of the treasures and curiousities I tried last night: (My favorite doesn't seem to be in the auction tomorrow, but I'll be keeping my eyes out for it next time: 1998 Chapoutier "La Bernadine" Chateauneuf du Pape - drinking absolutely perfectly, earthy with a smack of bret and burst of fruit. Yum).

1998 Verget Corton Charlemagne
1968 Beaulieu Vineyards Reserve Burgundy
1962 Jaboulet Croze Hermitage
1972 Schramsburg Blanc de Blanc (Also had the 1973)
 1998 Elisabeth Chambellan Chateauneuf du Pape, Vielles Vignes
1999 Tua Rita "Giusto di Notri"
2000 Vielle Julienne Cotes du Rhone
2000 Pierre Usseglio Chateauneuf du Pape
1999 Raveneau "Chapelot" Chablis Premier Cru
1998 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape
1974 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay (1 year after the Paris tasting fame)
1948 Domaine de l'Aulée (Loire White - dead but interesting )