Keep the red wine flag flying

IT HAS a vintage Soviet Union flag in its student bar, but King’s College, Cambridge, which rejoices in its Lefty reputation, doesn’t stint on its cellar, which contains 50,000 bottles — a few cases of which are going under the hammer at Christie’s.

The upper estimate for the sale is a distinctly capitalist £1.2million, which may ease the pain felt by King’s Wine Steward, Peter de Bolla. ‘One is always sad to see great wines leave the cellar,’ reflects de Bolla, who is also Professor of Cultural History and Aesthetics.

If you fancy a dozen bottles of the Henri Jayer for Georges Jayer, Echézeaux 1999, be prepared to fork out £80,000. Up the workers!