Countdown to the Verlin Auction
The Chicago wine calendar is loaded with prime-time events this time of year. Wholesalers are showcasing their star clients. Pure Wine Co. hosted its major portfoilio tasting last week in the Pritzker Pavilion, followed by Maverick’s this week at the University Club of Chicago. Heritage Wine Cellars holds its gala tasting next Monday. The nation’s premier winemakers and winery proprietors have been passing through O’Hare International Airport in large numbers.
I passed through the casually chic Naha restaurant Wednesday night to meet an old colleague for dinner. Not surprisingly, we encountered winemakers in the lounge. They were taking a break before going back to work. Naha hosted Pinot After Hours, an “exceptional lineup of Oregon’s leading Pinot producers.” A tasting scheduled from 10:30 p.m. to 2 a.m.? Why not? The Oregonians, at least, had the edge of being biologically on Pacific time.
The crown jewel on the calendar is Friday and Saturday when Chicago’s Tru restaurant is the venue for a Hart Davis Hart auction for the ages, the epic Steven Verlin Collection. It will attract the nation’s top collectors. Sales are expected to exceed $6 million, a record. This is to be the largest “named” private collection auction in U.S. history. A total of 1,876 lots will go on the block, including the most coveted vintages of Bordeaux and Burgundy on the planet. The kickoff was actually Thursday night when Tru hosted a $2,000-per-seat Chateau LaFleur vertical tasting.
At Naha, my friend and I debated about opening a bottle of 2004 Bonaccorsi Melville Pinot I brought along at his request. But we found an enticing alternative on Naha’s constantly updated list, a 2004 Paul Hobbs El Felino Malbec, one of the releases from Hobbs’ Mendoza consultation endeavor in Argentina. It opened up after 20 minutes. It was spicey and balanced enough to pair up nicely with two diverse entrees, a flavorful squab breast and beef short ribs.
Look for Vintelligence reports from the Verlin auction this weekend.
