Chirac's City Hall wine collection makes a million

PARIS - Wine enthusiasts paid just over a million dollars to buy some of the best wines collected by French President Jacques Chirac while he was mayor of Paris.

Chirac's collection of wines used to dazzle prominent guests during his almost two-decade reign as mayor of the City of Light. Now the sale of about 5000 bottles prised from the city hall's grand wine cellar has bested expert estimates.

The sale earned 961,030 euros ($1.8 million) against expectations of up to 700,000 euros, a spokeswoman for the Credit Municipal auction house said on Saturday.

"It all sold very well," the spokeswoman said.

The most expensive lot was two bottles of 1986 Romanee Conti, sold to Britain's Antique Wine Company for 5000 euros each -- plus 15 per cent commission.

"I know that Chirac was heavily criticised for his flamboyant purchases. After this sale one could perhaps conclude it was a good investment," Antique Wine Company chairman Stephen Williams told Le Parisien newspaper.

The sale, which took place over two days, was ordered by Socialist Mayor Bertrand Delanoe after an audit revealed the value of the collection had risen sharply.

The bottles date back to the days when Chirac used to host lavish receptions in the gilded city hall building, earning himself a bon vivant image that proved popular with some voters but also prompted accusations of excess.

- REUTERS