Foreword “ In the orb of night ”

foreword

— “ in the orb of night ”

by michael ganne

“One puts much more passion into obtaining what one does not have, than into keeping what one has”.

Stendhal

Passion can be expressed in a thousand different ways. Whatever the type of collection, each object has a meaning… Pleasure or emotion, desire or inclination, whatever the object of this desire, it has a singular and unique significance for each of us, because it leads us on an intimate quest for enjoyment and sensual pleasure.

This expectation of fulfilment must undoubtedly echo in every epicurean who reads these lines, resolute wine lovers and gourmets that we are, in the quest to find the right vintage to be paired with the right dish for a perfect match and for a unique occasion. For these exquisite wines will only express themselves once they have emerged from the darkness of the cellar where they have been preserved and pampered… only then will they offer themselves like a mortal creature to fulfil our expectations of fulfilment and our desire for the absolute.

Socratic wisdom holds that “to live well, one must allow one’s passions all the growth possible, instead of repressing them, and, when they have reached their full strength, be capable of satisfying them by one’s courage and intelligence and of fulfilling all one’s desires as they blossom.” Like the Platonic dialogue between Socrates and Callicles, our sale-event on 27 November awaits you with a constellation of vintages to explore, terroirs to delve into, winegrowers to discover, or rediscover, and viticultural journeys to undertake, in keeping with the private collections that have shaped the catalogue for this sale.

This especially unique selection of 1500 bottles, diligently assembled by seasoned private collectors is an impressive combination of fine and rare wines & spirits which embodies the passion of this handful of exceptional wine enthusiasts for the greatest estates and crus of the world.

From the world-acclaimed French terroirs, to Spain and Italy’s finest vineyards, from revered Australian and Californian winemakers… this 192-lot selection represents in itself the dreamed cellar, the ideal collection with wines from the most iconic producers one can dream of. The perfect preservation of these 1500 bottles, magnums and larger formats is itself evidence of the great care administered in the control of temperatures and hygrometry ensuring ideal storage conditions for each bottle selected by Baghera/ wines’ expert team in this catalogue.

Conterno, Giacosa, Soldera, Quintarelli, Vega Sicilia, Ygay, Dominus, Harlan, Shafer, Penfolds, Krug, Moët&Chandon, Clos Rougeard, Guigal, Chave, Rayas, Bizot, Engel, Jayer, Liger-Belair, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Roumier, Rousseau, d’Auvenay, Coche-Dury, Leroy, Lafite, Latour, Mouton, Margaux, Haut-Brion, Mission Haut-Brion, Pétrus, Le Pin, Lafleur, Cheval Blanc, Ausone, d’Yquem, Macallan, Karuizawa, spanning from 1895 to 2019… give the scope of this impressive heritage that we now give you the opportunity to discover. Contemplate the magnificent landscape that stretches out under the clear white moonlight; admire these exceptional bottles that we have carefully selected, and which carry within them so many moments of eternity, reflections of the hard work of the winegrowers who brought them into being; appreciate these viticultural treasures that have patiently waited in these perfect cellars to be able to finally blossom in the twilight of the day!

Michael Ganne

And the whiteness became light, and in the azure The brightness became crimson, and we saw it burst, bloom, And swell into an inexpressible dawn Which began to ascend in the high firmament By degrees and without haste and formidably; [...] And suddenly, like a spirit enters a house, Appeared, over the fierce horizon, A flame suffusing millions of leagues, Monstrous glow of blue immensities, Splendid in the depths of the suddenly lightened sky; And the fearsome star said to man: ‘I am here!’