An Exemplary Collection of Domaine Armand Rousseau alongside Rarities from the Cellar of Ian Mill KC

An Exemplary Collection of Domaine Armand Rousseau alongside Rarities from the Cellar of Ian Mill KC

A significant collection of mature wines from the legendary cellar of Ian Mill KC. Ian is widely regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and exacting collectors in the UK. His passion for Burgundy was ignited in the mid-1980s by an epiphany tasting of Domaine Leflaive’s Bâtard Montrachet 1982 – a moment that began a lifelong pursuit of the region’s great wines.

From that point forward, Ian embarked on an ongoing love affair with Burgundy, complemented by mature Bordeaux, Champagne and beyond. His understanding of Burgundy and its leading figures in particular is second to none, and his taste combines impeccable discernment with an inquisitive spirit, always seeking new producers and regions to explore.

Among the reds, 1978, 1985, 1996 and 1999 stand out – vintages celebrated for their balance, complexity, and longevity, and increasingly scarce today. These years are represented by luminaries such as Armand Rousseau, Georges Roumier, and Denis Bachelet, among many others.

For whites, the collection includes exceptional examples from 1985, 1986 and 1992, vintages that produced wines of remarkable tension and depth, sourced from masters like Comtes Lafon, Coche Dury, and Domaine Leflaive. Outside of Burgundy, there are rare treats for lovers of Côte-Rôtie, with magnificent bottles from Domaine Jamet and Gentaz- Dervieux, alongside a trove of vintage champagne reaching back to the 1970s.

This collection is one of the most compelling cellars to reach the market in recent years. Assembled by a single private collecting family, every bottle in this selection was purchased on or around release directly through trusted channels, then transferred immediately into professional bonded storage, where it has remained undisturbed until now.

At the heart of the collection lies a truly exceptional offering of the great wines of Domaine Armand Rousseau. From the silken intensity of Clos Saint Jacques to the profound depth and aromatic brilliance of Chambertin and Chambertin Clos de Bèze, Rousseau’s wines possess a harmony and transparency that only the greatest producers achieve.

The vintages represented here—spanning 1995 to 2007—encompass what many collectors and connoisseurs consider a golden era for the domaine. This was a period defined by both climatic character and stylistic consistency: cooler, linear vintages such as 1996 sits alongside more generous, opulent years like 2003 and 2005 together forming a study in balance, longevity and the nuanced expression of terroir.

Beyond Rousseau, the cellar features an impressive roster of other elite Burgundian producers: Damoy, Grivot and Roulot to name a few icons known for their precision, restraint and incomparable expression of place. In addition, the collection includes pristine cases of Bordeaux from 1st Growths and other top châteaux, and select cases of mature Krug, Veuve Clicquot and Bollinger.

An Exemplary Collection of Domaine Armand Rousseau alongside Rarities from the Cellar of Ian Mill KC. Auction by Christie´s

27 FEB 10AM – 13 MAR 10AM GMT | Online