The sale of the Willy Michiels collection, some of whose wines we had the chance to taste with The Wine Club and our guests, takes place next week. Before moving to 2026, Sotheby’s is presenting “The Magnificent Cellars of Willy Michiels – A Passion for Collecting”, a remarkable global series opening with a two-days Grand Inaugural sales in Paris.

–The Magnificent Cellars of Willy Michiels – Part I – Live Sale – Day 1 Opened for advance bidding on 2 December – Online to Live Auction, 16 December, 13:00 CET.

–The Magnificent Cellars of Willy Michiels – Part I – Online Sale – Day 2  Opened for bidding 4 December – Online-Only Auction, 18 December, 11:00 CET.

Recently removed from the family’s magnificent Renaissance château, these wines were kept across seven grand vaulted cellars, meticulously restored and purpose-built beneath the château to ensure perfect natural temperature and humidity. The result is one of the most comprehensive private collections of Bordeaux and Burgundy ever assembled: a true liquid encyclopaedia spanning 1925 to 2012. Most bottles remain in their original wooden cases, and the immaculate levels and labels testify to decades of care and stewardship.

Visit the Castle and discover the cellars

Day 1: The Magnificent Cellars of Willy Michiels – Part I – Live Sale – DAY 1 Live Auction in Paris, 16 December, 13:00 CET.
Online to Live – Top tier Burgundy Domaines, Bordeaux First Growth and Right Bank equivalents
The opening session begins with Burgundy at its apex: rare Henri Jayer (1978-1985) , Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (1966-1989), Domaine Leroy (1993-1996) Clos des Lambrays (1988-1993) and Méo-Camuzet (1988-1994). The whites follow with equal poise – Raveneau, and a substantial offering of Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche (1988-1997)
Bordeaux provides an equally distinguished counterpart, focusing on the great First Classed Growths Lafite (1973-2004), Latour (1934-1998), Margaux (1967- 2011), Haut-Brion (1998-2005), Mouton (1957-2004), and their Right Bank equivalents: Petrus (1964-2007), Le Pin (1994-2000), Cheval Blanc (1967-2009) and Angelus (1995-2015) – culminating in a selection of old Château d’Yquem (1925-2007).

Day 2 : The Magnificent Cellars of Willy Michiels | Part I | Online Sale | DAY 2  Opened 4 December | Online-Only Auction, 18 December, 11:00 CET
Online Only – Bordeaux and Burgundy in Exceptional Depth
Day 2 offers a vast panorama of the Left and Right Banks from the 1980s to early 2000s. At its heart is one of the most significant private holdings of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande ever assembled – an unbroken sequence from 1966 to 2005.
The Left Bank continues with Second to Fifth Classed Growth highlights, including Ducru-Beaucaillou (1982-2002), Léoville Las Cases (1982-2003), Montrose, Pichon Baron, Lynch-Bages and La Mission Haut-Brion (1999-2005)
On the Right Bank: Figeac, L’Évangile, Vieux Château Certan, and a remarkable offering of La Fleur-Pétrus (1989-2010) and Trotanoy (1979-2005)
Burgundy returns with what is believed to be the largest private holding of Domaine des Lambrays (1990-1999), from its renowned Clos des Lambrays to an extensive Morey-Saint-Denis selection, complemented by Premier and Grand Crus from Château de la Tour, Ramonet, Sauzet, Drouhin, and Remoissenet.

We invite you to explore these extraordinary cellars – a collection shaped by passion, precision, and a lifelong pursuit of excellence

Please let us know if you would like to attend the auction or register for phone bidding.
contact at larvi.com, we will introduce to the Sotheby’s Wine team.

This article has been published on December 10th, 2025.