Written as a lighthearted and easy to read series of 89 anecdotes, this is Miles Maskell's illustrated autobiography, and recounts some of the more adventurous and entertaining experiences of his life to date, as well as a number of amusing incidents encountered by his relations and closest friends.
Miles has lived a varied life, and has travelled widely as amply demonstrated in his anecdotes. He has been a City of London wine merchant, owned two restaurants and a champagne bar, and eventually created a company letting top-of-the-range properties in southern France on behalf of their owners.
He has climbed 20 thousand feet mountains, shot wild boar in Poland, piloted a 4-seater aircraft of which he was a part-owner, parachuted in New Zealand, and ridden the Cresta Run in St Moritz. He is also a sculptor.
He was born in London where he continues to live, having been at school in Cape Town and then at Cambridge University.
Written as a lighthearted and easy to read series of 89 anecdotes, this is Miles Maskell's illustrated autobiography, and recounts some of the more adventurous and entertaining experiences of his life to date, as well as a number of amusing incidents encountered by his relations and closest friends.
Miles has lived a varied life, and has travelled widely as amply demonstrated in his anecdotes. He has been a City of London wine merchant, owned two restaurants and a champagne bar, and eventually created a company letting top-of-the-range properties in southern France on behalf of their owners.
He has climbed 20 thousand feet mountains, shot wild boar in Poland, piloted a 4-seater aircraft of which he was a part-owner, parachuted in New Zealand, and ridden the Cresta Run in St Moritz. He is also a sculptor.
He was born in London where he continues to live, having been at school in Cape Town and then at Cambridge University.
In terms of quality, 1961 was a truly outstanding year for Bordeauxās red wines, ranking it amongst the very best of the 20th century vintages.
Most unfortunately, in that year one of its most important regions, Pomerol, was hit by a severe spring frost, killing the majority of the tiny berries which would later become grapes. Chateau Petrus, arguably the worldās finest red wine, and certainly one of the most expensive, if not the most expensive, was particularly badly hit, and consequently produced a greatly reduced quantity in this year-of-years.
Owing to its exceptional quality, the opening prices of the 1961 vintage were very high, and have climbed steeply ever since as fewer and fewer bottles remain undrunk.
Enter Charles Dugan-Chapman who, some years after he fled to England from Poland in 1940 (following the German invasion of his country at the start of World War II), changed his name from Ignacy Czajka.
He became a fighter and fighter-bomber pilot with the RAF, and after the war, he set up a plastics manufacturing business in Croydon which he sold in 1986 for over Ā£30 million. He retired, turning his attention to golf (he was āscratch` at Sunningdale Golf Club in Berkshire), and to bridge at Londonās high-stake Portland Club. He was also an avid collector of fine wine.
Possibly my greatest friend, Peter Marrian, was then living in Kenya, and every year he came to stay with me for a month or so in my house in Smith Terrace, Chelsea. On his annual visit, and to repay my hospitality, he insisted on taking me to a guest night at the Portland Club of which he was a member.
Charles always seemed to be there, and knowing that I was a wine merchant, heād insist that I sit next to him at dinner, buying a bottle of exceptional wine for us to share, and reluctantly offering Peter a glass.
On one such occasion (in the early 1980s), he asked me if I knew anything about 1961 Chateau Petrus. I replied that whilst of course I did, it was remarkably hard to find, and Iād never tasted it.
āThe reason I askā, he said, āis that in the air-conditioned, temperature-controlled cellar of my house in Sunningdale, Iāve arranged chronologically an unopened case of every single vintage of Chateau Petrus since 1900. Iāve built up this collection over many years, and the only case Iām missing is 1961ā.
He then told me that whilst over the course of time heād asked many wine merchants and other friends and acquaintances if they could find a case for him, so far no-one had managed to do so.
āCan you help me?ā he queried, rather desperately.
āWhat would you pay for a case if I could find one?ā, I asked tentatively. āAnythingā, he replied.
āDo you really mean anything?ā
āYes, I do ā Iām a rich man, and it would complete my collection, and I could then turn my attention to other things.ā
Over the next few months I tried to find a case for Charles, telephoning, amongst many others, Michael Broadbent, the doyen of the British wine trade, and a director of Christieās wine department.
āIām looking for a case of 1961 Petrus.āĀ
āJoin the queueā, he replied. āHowever, I have to tell you that Iāve already got a list of more than thirty people wanting one, so itās most unlikely Iāll ever locate one for you.ā
My final throw of the dice was to telephone Jean-Francois Moueix who, with his brother, owned Petrus.
āCould you sell me a case of the 1961?ā I asked. āAbsolutely notā, he replied, āas we have so little left.Ā But Iāll tell you what Iāll do.Ā If you ever come to lunch with us at the Chateau, Iāll open a bottle for youā.
Sadly, I failed to taken him up on his invitation!
I eventually had to tell Charles that, like everyone else, I couldnāt help him, and the matter was left at that.
Time moved on, until a miracle occurred.
We were wont, about once a week, to give a lunch in my office at Greenās, the table (which seated eight) serving at all other times as my desk.
In addition to potential and present customers and friends, I tried over the years to invite longstanding clients whom I hadnāt met since we purchased the company from the Green family in 1974.
On one such occasion, I placed one such loyal customer on my right, and towards the end of lunch, he said to me: āMay I ask you a question?ā
āOf courseā, I replied.
āWhen 1961 Petrus first appeared on the market, I bought two cases, both of which I have in the small cellar of my flat in Grosvenor Square here in London. I feel that if I sold one of them ā I believe theyāre rather expensive! ā I could then happily drink the other twelve bottlesā.
āWould you possibly be interested in buying a case, and if so, what would you pay for it?ā
āWellā¦ā, I said, pretending to be only mildly interested. āWhilst we obviously couldnāt include just one case in our price list, if youād like me to do so, Iād be happy to try to find a buyer for your case, and if Iām successful, lād then let you know what he or she would be willing to stump up for itā.
āAbsolutely fineā, he replied.
I immediately telephoned Michael Broadbent, asking him what heād pay me for a case.
āHave you got one?ā, he asked excitedly.
āIām not saying I haveā, I responded. āBut if I can find one, how much would you offer me for it?ā
āĀ£20,000ā, he replied immediately, āsubject to Christieās sellerās commission, of courseā.
I then rang Charles, saying I believe Iād found a case for him - he was astounded.
I reminded him that heād said that heād pay anything for it, and asked if he still meant it.
āYesā, he said very firmly, and taking a deep breath, I told him that the price would be Ā£50,000. āDone,ā he almost shouted, and I felt that I could well have asked a lot more!
I then spoke to the owner of the two cases, saying that I thought Iād found a buyer for one of them. I also told him that Iād spoken to Michael Broadbent (whose great reputation he knew), whoād said that heād pay Ā£20,000 for it, less Christieās commission.
āButā, I said, āin order that you donāt place the case with Christieās, Iāll pay you the gross sum of Ā£20,000, i.e. without deducting Christieās charge.ā
My seller was thrilled ā he hadnāt thought his case was worth anything like as much ā and Charles therefore completed his collection.
Sadly, he died two or three years later, although hopefully a contented man. I never heard, though, what happened to his Petrus collection. Was it sold in its entirety or case by case, and if the latter, who bought the case of 1961?
Ā
Incidentally, as at December 2021 (and as shown on the internet), the price of a bottle of 1961 Chateau Petrus ranges between Ā£8,000 and Ā£14,000.
Miles Maskell's autobiographical collection of anecdotes is a delightful and captivating read that offers a glimpse into the diverse life he has led thus far. With 89 charming stories accompanied by pleasant illustrations, this book takes readers on a journey through Miles' fascinating experiences while also highlighting the humourous escapades of his nearest and dearest.
What sets this autobiography apart is the author's ability to effortlessly transport readers to various corners of the world. Miles has lived a life full of exploration, evident in his vividly described adventures and extensive travels. The anecdotes shared in this book offer a diverse range of experiences that will immerse you. The author's zest for life and willingness to embrace new challenges shines through on every page. Miles' passion for adventure extends beyond the physical realm. The multifaceted aspect of his life adds depth and richness to the anecdotes, offering an intimate understanding of his personality and creative spirit.
I have to place some emphasis on the format of the book. I have read a lot of memoirs, both historical and from modern times, and I don't recall having encountered one written in a series of anecdotes. It's actually rather inspiring, in my opinion, and is a rather interesting collection of stories. It's also easy to spot the humour in almost all of Miles' anecdotes, although there are some that are a little more serious (whilst still being funny). In the interest of keeping this spoiler-free, I will avoid speaking of any in particular detail, but my personal favourite is the incident in which Miles spent the night in a room that had a let's say, unwelcoming vibe, and from which I imagine Miles probably took a while to recover.
While the anecdotes mainly revolve around Miles' experiences, the inclusion of the amusing incidents involving his relations and closest friends adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the book. These interwoven tales provide moments of laughter, camaraderie, and a sense of shared joy, further emphasizing the importance of relationships and the people who shape our lives to which I think (or at least, I hope) most of us can relate.
The author's writing style is refreshingly accessible. Each anecdote is concise yet vividly descriptive, allowing readers to picture the landscapes, and the scenery, and feel the rush of adrenaline alongside Miles. The inclusion of illustrations adds an extra touch of whimsy, bringing the stories to life and enhancing the overall reading experience.
In conclusion, "My Wife's Canary..." is an engaging collection of stories that transports readers into a world of adventure, laughter, and self-discovery. With his charismatic storytelling, Miles Maskell invites us to join him on his extraordinary journey, leaving us with a renewed sense of wanderlust and an appreciation for the beauty of life's diverse experiences.