Joel Shapiro’s wine collection itself is a work of art. The late, great American sculptor selected bottles with extreme care and precision, as if he were creating another of his bronze masterpieces. His prized assemblage will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month in a landmark sale that is expected to achieve in excess of $700,000. 

Sourced from Shapiro’s former New York wine cellars, the collection reflects both great discernment and passion. Built over several decades, the lineup includes blue-chip Burgundy and Bordeaux, as well as bottles from highly coveted producers in Piedmont, Rhône, the Loire Valley, and Napa Valley. Shapiro reportedly had a nose for promising winemakers, finding them before they had any international acclaim and quietly acquiring bottles that today rank among the most desirable in the world. 

“Joel Shapiro approached collecting wine with the same conviction and clarity that defined his sculpture,” Richard Young, Sotheby’s wine head of auction sales, Americas, said in a statement. “He had an extraordinary eye for producers long before they became universally celebrated, and he collected with both passion and patience.”

Pedigree and provenance are only part of the collection’s appeal, though. The wines were meticulously stored over the past two decades, meaning cases and bottles are immaculate. Burgundies from standout vintages such as 1996 and 1999, along with Bordeaux from 1990 and 2000, are offered in what Sotheby’s describes as “pristine condition,” often in full six and twelve-bottle cases. That is increasingly rare to find in today’s market, where single bottles are more common.

One standout lot is a 12-bottle wooden case of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1993 La Tâche (estimate: $30,000–$42,000). Presented with original banding fully intact, the case is in remarkable condition, as are the bottles within, resulting in a true time capsule of La Tâche. 

Another incredible lot is a 12-bottle case of René Engel 1999 Grands Échézeaux (est. $15,000–$20,000). Offered in the original carton, the case has been preserved to the highest standards, making it something of an anomaly on the market. 

As for single bottles, highlights include the exceedingly rare Jean-Louis Chave Cuvée Cathelin from 1995 and 1998 (est. $3,000–$5,000 per bottle). Made in very limited quantities from Chave’s finest parcels, these wines are among the best and most coveted Syrahs ever produced. 

That is only a taste of what’s on offer, but it demonstrates the caliber of Shapiro’s cellar. “It is a collection that reflects true connoisseurship, and one that today’s collectors will immediately recognize as both rare and deeply personal,” Young adds.

Kinetic | The Wine Cellar of Joel Shapiro will be auctioned off in a live sale at Sotheby’s New York on March 6.