Drink the best from the writers' cellars

Published: 23 July, 2008

Harpers has teamed up with wine trade charity The Wine and Spirit Trades' Benevolent Society to offer readers the exclusive chance to bid for a case of fine wines selected by
a panel of leading journalists from their very own cellars.

The case was originally put together under the direction of Oddbins PR manager Claudia Brown (a member of The Benevolent's young managers committee, Buddies of The Benevolent or BOB). It features picks from the personal cellars of 12 experts' working at the The Wine Show in London last month.

Harpers readers can bid for the wines, which have a reserve price of 500, by contacting Charlotte Stephens at Richmond Towers PR on charlotte.stephens@richmondtowers.com, before 31 December. If the reserve bid is not met, then the wine will be offered at auction by Christie's in the New Year.

The case consists of the following wines:

Pol Roger Champagne NV - Kitty Johnson

1994 Chteau de Castelnau Old Vine Semillon - Joe Wadsack

1989 Domaine des Aubuisieres Vouvray Moelleux, Slection Grains Nobles Le Marigny - Charles Metcalfe

1977 McWilliams Philip Hermitage' - Robert Joseph

1979 Chteau Beychevelle Grand Vin St-Julien - Oz Clarke

1980 Chteau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac - Nigel Barden

1985 Chteau Le Tertre Rteboeuf, St-Emilion Grand Cru - Jancis Robinson

1994 La Mission Haut Brion - Tim Atkin

1996 Domus Aurea Cabernet Sauvignon - James Forbes,

wine buyer, Oddbins

1998 Sassicaia, Tenuta San Guido - Matt Skinner

2000 Chteau Haut-Marbuzet, Saint-Estphe (in magnum) - Sarah Jane Evans

1996 Quinta do Noval Nacional Vintage Port - Susy Atkins.

The Benevolent Auction at Christie's held a fortnight ago raised almost 13,000, with most lots selling well and commanding excellent prices. The money raised will go towards a special payment to a number of wine-trade pensioners to help them to fund their heating bills over the coming winter months.

Mike Campbell, chief executive of The Benevolent, said: With the rising fuel costs and fear of facing another cold winter, more and more of our beneficiaries are turning to us for greater help. These fundraisers really are important for us and we are very grateful for everyone's support.'

The Benevolent is most grateful to the trade who generously donated product; their names will be listed on The Benevolent website (www.thebenevolent.org.uk).

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