Royal Wine Romance.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 July 1912, Page 4

Royal Wine Romance.

CCJMUi'.S KIM) L\ LONDON

AUCTION UOOM

I In.' auction salo-ruoin lias lurnlshc.l tiianv little romances, and ""«■ unc | lilSl ialivu to tilt; lot o[ tho "mo trudi'. A i L .\ V C l ; , v ago t j le atiiMitioti oi a '■ta.su.'r ,- utudied to a West Kikl iiini whs called in a Uiidon sale-room to a hanipk- bottle "I a. (Di).sioi m i(>)it. It could not be d<wil)ixl in other tonus than a mottli- "I" ihihJ. lor it was a douse lirown iiiiKs.s of semi-liquid cliaraetor with a Strang, musty nmgoid fsmdl. The catalogue aHorded no duo »n to its diameter, for it was described 'ii-s •• Kiftcon down of Mozelle" Cwhicli it most certainly was not) ■■fil'tooii years in bottle and tlien lyiiifl iu a j.rivate cellar at BatliV Xo lii rt her enliixlitenmont could bo <'litained from the uuetioiieor nor '■'"ild a better sample; be ■obtained. Tin- mysterious lot was knocked down to the taster, wliok' curiosity was aroused, at 10s per dozen, and .'il'ler roTisnltinnr with his principals fhe opinion was formed that it »""«lit he. some of the royal imperial dry toka.v which is the oxdneivp property of tlio Emperor of Austria, reserved for royal consumption, and regarded as one of tlio most valuable presents that the Emporor sends l<> other Royal houses. It w.'kc TCtiniated that tho original (|iiai;tity which the vondor possofiwd was an ninn or cask «r .'SO callous. Tt TOiiM when hottlod mako the specified lo dozen, and allow for about a dozou bottles containing the lees or seniinont. ono of which wns no doubt tho .sample submitted a t tho fsale. The consignment was hrou K ht up frfin Hath, and n special sitting ~f th(> directors of tlio firm, tho manager, and the expert taster was Ik'l'l. Iu solemn silence a bottle \vas uncorked, and tho wine-pale, and brilliantly clear—was mianimnu% pronounced to he the royal tokay, the tiado value of \rliicl) is not less than a guinea and a half a bottle. No doubt the original owner was some diplomatist to wlioin the wine had been given as a mark of Tmporial favour.