Expert: Paul Wagner - 11/24/2007

Question
I just inherited two very old bottles of alcohol and  am trying to figure out what they are worth.  The first is a bottle titled "LE COGNAC DE LA MAISON GODET" and is from the "Private Reserve From the Private Cellar of Jean Godet Vintage 1852".  The second bottle is "Cognac Chateau Montifaud" and is a Petite Champagne.  On the bottle it says it is "Provenance directe de la Ropriete Louis Vallet".  Not much else is described.

Any ideas what these could be worth?  Where could I get the bottles appriased?

Thanks

Answer
Hi Adam

For something like this, it's best to go straight to the auction experts.  These aren't bottles that you can sell on ebay, but Sothebys.com is a full service auction house that has real expertise in this kind of thing.  I would start there.  They can tell you whether these are authentic, and what kinds of prices previous bottles might have sold for.

You can also try winebid.com, but they are primarily wine experts, and may not have the same kind of audience for spirits like this.

Hope that helps.  Good luck.

Paul Wagner