Chirac's Paris wine cellar auctioned

PARIS, Oct. 21 (UPI) -- Some wine buyers didn't visit France's vineyards for that special bottle -- they bid at auction in Paris on wine from Jacques Chirac's years as mayor.

Mayor Bertrand Delanoe, who abstains, said he hoped the two-day auction of nearly 5,000 bottles adds about $500,000 to Paris' coffers, The Times of London said Saturday. The cellar inventory was accrued during the French president's mayoral term from 1977-1995, but for Delanoe and fellow socialists it represents extravagance and lavish living, The Times said.

On the first day of bidding Friday, the largest sum offered was just over $6,300 each for two bottles of Romanee-Conti 1986, The Times said. The other large sale was $1,500 each for a 21-bottle lot of Chateau Petrus 1989 and 1990.

Chirac supporters bemoaned the auction, saying the cellar of excellent wines was in keeping with the prestige of being Paris mayor, The Times said. A report in 2005 by the General Inspection, which reviews city expenses, noted that some of the best bottles have appreciated in value so much that they were too valuable to serve, The Times said.