On Saturday, March 8, wine lovers have the chance to bid on rare bottles of Burgundy, Châteauneuf, Vintage Port and more from the personal cellar of Martine Saunier, the renowned importer and filmmaker who died last month. Acker, the New York wine shop and auction house, is selling over 165 lots from Saunier’s personal collection in a live and online auction.
Proceeds will benefit Doctors Without Borders and an educational endowment for young women in wine. According to the auction catalogue, that project, which is still under development, will “send selected recipients to Burgundy for a week of in-depth education and tasting annually.”
The offering is part of a larger sale, comprising almost 2,000 lots, held in conjunction with La Paulée, the celebration of Burgundy wines marking its 25th anniversary this week in New York. The first part of the sale was held the afternoon of Thursday, March 6. The second part, including the Saunier lots, will be on Saturday, March 8, at 10 a.m. ET.
As an importer, Saunier championed many producers who are now legends in the world of wine. The sale features mature bottles—including magnums—from several of them, including Henri Jayer, Château Rayas, Denis Mortet and Domaine Leroy. The Burgundies span four decades, from 1962 to 2006. Special highlights include multiple vintages of Jayer’s famed Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux and Echézeaux bottlings. The Rayas on offer ranges from 1985 to 2007; six bottles of the stellar 1990 vintage are sure to draw enthusiastic bidding. There are also several bottles from Niepoort—a special favorite of Saunier’s—including the 1917 White Port.
The wines come directly from Saunier’s collection and have been stored professionally in California and at a home cellar in Burgundy.
“This is a singular, last opportunity to acquire wines curated by one of the industry’s most influential figures—bottles that embody her extraordinary palate, deep knowledge and unwavering commitment to excellence,” said Acker chairman John Kapon in the auction catalogue. “It will be a bittersweet day, but Martine would want us to forget the bitter part and celebrate her life and her wines, and that is what we will do.”
Acker is hosting an in-person bidding party at its New York office. Wine lovers can also bid on Acker’s website or app from anywhere in the world.
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