LONDON.- Beginning this December, in a series of four dedicated auctions held across the globe, Sotheby’s will present one of the most comprehensive private wine collections ever assembled, estimated to realise up to €11 million in total.

Recently removed from a magnificent Renaissance château in Belgium – a family property encircled by its original moat – the wines were lovingly acquired by the late Willy Michiels. More than 29,000 bottles were stored across seven grand vaulted cellars, meticulously restored and purpose-built beneath the château to maintain perfect natural conditions, including precise temperature and humidity control. The result is a cellar of extraordinary scale, precision, and preservation – a true liquid encyclopaedia of the greatest Bordeaux and Burgundy.

Spanning vintages from 1925 to 2012, the scope of this collection is breathtaking: landmark years represented in a vast array of formats, all with impeccable provenance. Predominantly comprising mature wines, the sale offers collectors the opportunity to experience decades of evolution and complexity at their peak, while younger vintages promise continued development for years to come. Together, they stand as a testament to the life’s work of a collector of exceptional discernment – a man whose devotion to provenance and rarity has culminated in one of the greatest private wine collections ever to come to auction.

The Magnificent Cellars of Willy Michiels | A Passion for Collecting will open with an inaugural sale in Paris on 16 December, complemented by an online sale closing on 18 December. The remainder of the collection will be offered across three additional major sales in 2026 – in Hong Kong on 14 March, in London in the spring, and in Paris in the second half of the year where a grand finale will conclude the series.

“This is one of the most exhilarating collections we have had the honour of bringing to auction – the epitome of Bordeaux and Burgundy, in a stunning range of vintages and formats. It has to be the envy of many winemakers themselves!” Serena Sutcliffe M.W., Honorary Chairman, Sotheby’s Wine

The Collection in Figures

Comprising more than 29,000 bottles, the collection includes:

• 20 Imperials, 16 Jeroboams, 60 Double-Magnums, 3,600 Magnums and 277 Half-Bottles

• 19,000 bottles of Bordeaux and 9,000 of Burgundy, complemented by selections from the Rhône, Champagne, Spain, and Napa Valley

• 19,000 bottles pre-2000, including 18,000 from the iconic 1980s and 1990s

Bordeaux

At the core of the collection lies Bordeaux in all its grandeur:

• Over 4,000 bottles of First Growths, including
o 800 bottles of Château Lafite Rothschild (1973–2004)
o 600 bottles of Château Margaux (1967–2011)
o 2,000 bottles of Château Mouton Rothschild (1957–2005) – in excess of €600,000
o 1,000 bottles of Château Cheval Blanc (1967–2009) – exceeding €500,000
o 500 bottles of Petrus (1964–2012) – exceeding €900,000
o 120 bottles of Le Pin (1989–2000)

• A monumental holding of 3,500 bottles of Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
(1966–2005) – one of the largest private selections ever offered

• A constellation of Right Bank icons, including Château Angelus, Figeac, La Fleur Pétrus alongside 1,300 bottles of Trotanoy

• 400 bottles of Château d’Yquem (1925–2011) – a luminous chronicle of Sauternes across pre- and post-war vintages

Burgundy

The Burgundy section is equally formidable, spanning the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune and distinguished by many of the region’s most revered Domaines:

• Henri Jayer (1978–1987) – over 300 bottles, including rare full cases, estimated in excess of €1.8 million

• Domaine des Lambrays (1988–1999) – more than 3,500 bottles including Clos des Lambrays, Monopole, valued above €800,000

• Domaine Joseph Drouhin (1985–2007) – 1,900 bottles, including circa 800 of Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche, exceeding €500,000

• Domaine Ramonet (1986–2003) – 250 bottles of crystalline whites

• Domaine Leroy (1994–1997) – 70 bottles of rare Premiers and Grands Crus

• Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (1966–2000) – selections of mature and impeccably sourced bottles

The Grand Inaugural Sale in Paris

Opening with Burgundy, Day 1 celebrates the collector’s deep passion for terroir and history – from the legendary Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Henri Jayer to Domaine Leroy and Méo- Camuzet, and the white marvels of Marquis de Laguiche – crowned by the first tranche from what is believed to be the largest private holding of Domaine des Lambrays ever presented at auction.

The Bordeaux offering is equally monumental. Day 1 places the spotlight on the majestic First Classed Growths and their Right Bank counterparts – from Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Haut-Brion, and Mouton to Angelus, Cheval Blanc, Petrus, and Le Pin. The session culminates in a lifetime’s collection of Château d’Yquem.

Day 2, online only, opens with Bordeaux and an expansive panorama of Left and Right Bank treasures – from the celebrated “Super Seconds” Léoville Las Cases, Cos d’Estournel, and Ducru- Beaucaillou, to one of the most significant private holdings of Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande ever assembled, comprising a continuous sequence from 1966 to 2005. Further highlights include La Mission Haut-Brion, Figeac, Trotanoy, and La Fleur-Pétrus.

In Burgundy, the journey continues with Premiers and Grands Crus from Château de La Tour, Domaine Ramonet, Etienne Sauzet, Joseph Drouhin, and Remoissenet, complemented by a colossal sequence of Domaine des Lambrays (1995-1999) and rare bottlings of Morey-Saint-Denis.

Willy Michiels

Willy Michiels (1937–2020) was a visionary Belgian entrepreneur and respected civic leader who rose from modest beginnings in Haaltert to become a pioneer of the national amusement industry. He established leading gaming and real estate enterprises while serving his community as municipal councillor, alderman and mayor. A devoted connoisseur of engineering and heritage, Michiels assembled a remarkable collection of historic carriages, classic tractors and vintage automobiles, alongside one of Belgium’s most distinguished private wine cellars. He is remembered for his ambition, innovative spirit and refined sense of taste.

Sale Timeline

• Paris | Day 1 – Online to Live
Opening 2 December 2025 | Closing 16 December 2025 | 278 lots

• Paris | Day 2 – Online Only
Opening 4 December 2025 | Closing 18 December 2025 | 475 lots

• Hong Kong | 14 March 2026

• London | Spring 2026

• Paris | H2 2026 – Grand Finale