Iron Gate Auctions
Timed Auction

Beyond the Rules: Super Tuscan Pioneers among the World's Great Wines

Tue, Mar 24, 2026 10:00AM EDT - Tue, Mar 31, 2026 08:00PM EDT
  2026-03-24 10:00:00 2026-03-31 20:00:00 America/New_York Iron Gate Iron Gate : Beyond the Rules: Super Tuscan Pioneers among the World's Great Wines https://bid.irongateauctions.com/auctions/iron-gate-wine/beyond-the-rules-super-tuscan-pioneers-among-the-worlds-great-wines-21728
Explore a global collection in our March auction, where the world’s most prestigious wine regions provide the backdrop for a premier showcase of Tuscan treasures. While the catalogue journeys through the most celebrated wine estates, the sun-drenched slopes of Italy take center stage with a dedicated focus on the legendary Super Tuscans including a plethora of the greats: Tignanello, Sassicaia, Solaia and Ornellaia to name a few. **Please note: This sale has a Buyer's premium of 19.5%.** Operated under license by Alberta Gaming Liquor and Cannabis and Alberta Auction license #821930.
Iron Gate Auctions info@irongate.wine
  • 1988
  • Red
  • Pinot Noir
  • Vosne-Romanee
  • Cote de Nuits
  • Burgundy
  • France
  • 750ml
Lot 179

1988 Joseph Drouhin Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru - 1 bottle(s)-750ml

Estimate: CAD$800 - CAD$1,100
Starting Bid
CAD$300
$218.98

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
CAD$0 CAD$20
CAD$500 CAD$50
CAD$1,000 CAD$100
CAD$2,000 CAD$200
CAD$3,000 CAD$250
CAD$5,000 CAD$500
CAD$10,000 CAD$1,000
CAD$20,000 CAD$2,000
CAD$50,000 CAD$5,000
CAD$100,000 CAD$10,000
This lot is comprised of 1 bottle(s) of 1988 Joseph Drouhin Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru - 750ml. Estimate for this lot is between $800 - $1100 with a reserve of $300. The wine in this lot belongs to collection 11690.

Condition

Please note the following conditions in this lot - Lightly Bin-Soiled Label.

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All lots are located in Calgary, Alberta Canada. Confirmation of pickup or delivery of Iron Gate Commercial Auction winnings must be made within 30 days of auction close. Thereafter, your winnings will be subject to a $250 handling, administration and storage fee, including a subsequent $5.50/case/month and $1.50 per bottle fee for inventory services. If no contact has been made within two years, auction winnings will be considered abandoned.

 

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It is the responsibility of the buyer to make all arrangements for insuring, packing and removing the property purchased and any assistance by the Auctioneer, or the employees of, agents or contractors in packing and removal shall be rendered as a courtesy and without any liability to them. The Auctioneer shall not be liable for any errors or omissions or damage caused by packers and shippers, notwithstanding the fact that the Auctioneer may have recommended such shippers or packers to the purchaser.

A collector whose interest in wine began in the early 1960s, despite coming from a non-wine-oriented background. Starting modestly with bottles like Casal Mendes and Mateus, he gradually became more interested in wine, leading to a thoughtfully curated collection. Over the decades, he sourced wines from respected merchants including Century Wines (Rochester), Premium Wines (Buffalo), Vintages (with a strong focus on Bordeaux futures), the ALCB in Calgary, Berry Bros. & Rudd in London, and various Toronto importers. His original home featured a custom-designed wine cellar, later replaced by a traditional, climate-controlled cellar in his country home, where the bottles have remained undisturbed since 1990. Realizing that his 3,000-bottle cellar exceeds what he and his family could ever reasonably consume, he has chosen to share part of the collection through auction.
1988 Joseph Drouhin Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru from this lot has the following scores - CellarTracker 93 points. This is the tasting note for 1988 Joseph Drouhin Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru from Robert Parker - The compelling Grands Echezeaux is deep, full, and one of the more backward wines in Drouhin's stable in 1988. It is extremely concentrated and full bodied with a bouquet of seductive black fruits, flowers, minerals, and spicy new oak. Drouhin's oenologist told me the tannin and acidity levels of the wines were higher in 1988 than in 1985, but my tastings made me think otherwise. Perhaps as this wine recovers from bottle shock it will show more structure and acidity, and will be a more worthy candidate for long-term aging.