Innholdsfortegnelse for Nov-15 i Robb Report

NATURE TOOK millions of years to produce the marble that Elizabeth Turk (elizabethturksculptor.com) shapes for her art. By comparison, the California native works lightning fast, spending just months to carve each massive slab into an ethereal ribbon, cage, coil, or other form. “I never touched stone when I was in grad school,” says Turk, who received her MFA from the Rinehart School of Sculpture, at the Maryland Institute College of Art, in 1994. “I just jumped into it. I didn’t consider myself a carver.” Today her merits as a stone carver are unquestionable. The 2010 MacArthur Fellow recently had her fourth solo show at Hirschl & Adler Modern, the notable Manhattan gallery. The exhibit featured pieces that juxtapose stones she gathered in the West with the marble forms she creates…

TAWNY PORTS—traditionally designated as 10-, 20-, 30-, and 40-year-olds—are identified by the average age of the casks that compose the particular blend; thus, many of the finest tawnies hail from those houses with the largest and richest libraries. Founded in 1790, the house of Sandeman, which counts among the producers so blessed, has drawn on its vast reserves to mark the various milestones in its long history. For its bicentennial in 1990, Sandeman introduced a 30-year-old tawny, and to herald its entry into the new millennium, in 2000 it brought out a 40-year-old. Such is the size of the port house’s cellar that these unique releases have since remained in its regular line of products. This year, however, Sandeman celebrates its 225th anniversary in a dramatically different fashion. For the…

THE MAHARAJA OF Patialafollowed by his entourage of attendants carrying boxes of gemstones—paraded across Place Ven› dôme, from the Ritz Paris to the Bouch› eron boutique. On that day in 1928, the Parisian jewelry house received what was thus far its most extravagant commission: 149 jewelry pieces to be made with the Indian ruler’s stones, which included 7,571 diamonds (566 carats) and 1,432 emeralds (7,800 carats). An extraordinary necklace would eventually figure among the results of this historic order, and that design, with its elaborate patterns and intricate detail› ing, lives on today in Boucheron’s recently unveiled Jodhpur necklace (shown). This striking strand (price upon request) incorporates a thin, lightweight structure of milky›white Makrana marble, which was also used in 1631 to build the Taj Mahal. The stone necklace features…

RENÉ LALIQUE IS known for many forms of glass art: statuettes, perfume bottles, and hood ornaments, to name three. But his most popular items were his vases. “He made more vases than he made of anything else,” says David Weinstein, president of the DJL Lalique gallery in Glen Cove, N.Y. “The foremost 20th-century glass designer chose vases as his major form of expression.” During Lalique’s heyday, in the early part of the last century, he created hundreds of vase designs, and according to Nick Dawes, a Lalique expert at the New York office of Dallas-based Heritage Auctions, the vases expressed Lalique’s entrepreneurial spirit as much as his artistry. Whatever the item, says Dawes, Lalique’s namesake company would make as many as it could sell. Thus it is not uncommon for…

IT WAS A CRISP MAY MORNING, and I was sitting patiently in a New Zealand traffic jam. To the left of the winding dirt road, rolling hills tumbled into one another like golden-green waves until they disappeared suddenly into the shimmering horizon of Pigeon Bay. To the right, a steep slope rose some 30 feet above the vehicle, so close that it nearly scraped the side mirror. Directly in front, two dozen cows awkwardly crowded the road, shuffling uncomfortably between the bumper of the car and a cattle fence 20 yards ahead. Beside me in the driver’s seat, Liz Buttimore—then the general manager of the South Island’s new Annandale lodge—was clearly concerned. Even the most skilled driver would have balked at negotiating our dusty cliffside path in reverse, and pushing…

Robb Report is pleased to announce the fourth annual Culinary Masters Competition and this year’s panel of celebrated master chefs and their nominees. Each master chef—John Besh, Curtis Duffy, Christopher Kostow, Barbara Lynch, Norman Van Aken, and Michael White—represents a region across the United States and has nominated an up-and-coming chef doing groundbreaking work in the style of that region. These emerging culinary artists—Justin Devillier, Lee Wolen, Kim Floresca and Daniel Ryan, Patrick Campbell, Phil Bryant, and John Becker—are set to prepare a series of six competition dinners, which will be judged by an exclusive group of Robb Report readers and editors. All proceeds from the competition will be donated to charities chosen by the master chefs. And in January, we will share the exciting results: the winner of the…

ELEMENTS OF STYLE Fair-Weather Friend THE TRADITIONAL overcoat has some serious competition. Replacing the boxy, bulky standby are slimmer models that offer the same degree of warmth but are also lightweight and highly wearable. The newest topcoat from the Italian designer Brunello Cucinelli (brunellocucinelli.com) delivers just the right blend of style and comfort in a super-soft, double-faced cashmere version. “The silhouette is classic and timeless, yet its unstructured finish makes it relaxed, modern, and perfect for the versatile and active gentleman,” says Cucinelli, whose company is based in the Umbrian village of Solomeo. In his factory, a single artisan makes each topcoat ($8,210) almost entirely by hand, spending approximately 12 hours on the construction to give it a soft, unstructured finish. The relaxed silhouette fits over suits or adds polish…

HAVING BRANCHED OUT from fine-dining establishments to food trucks, the world’s great chefs are now taking to the high seas. Cruise lines across the globe are adding celebrity-chef restaurants, culinary-themed sailings, food panels, cooking classes, and test kitchens to their itineraries at a brisk pace. Most recently, port-of-call excursions have begun to explore regional markets and other defining elements of the local food scene. “We focus heavily on local ingredients and the cuisine of each destination we visit,” says Toni Neumeister, vice president of food and beverages for Crystal Cruises. The latest wave of marquee names to come aboard includes Curtis Stone, chef of Maude in Los Angeles and star of Bravo’s Top Chef Masters; the British star chef Jamie Oliver; and Miami’s Michael Schwartz. These are serious culinary partnerships:…

RUGGED MOUNTAINS, mighty rivers, and wide-open spaces form the postcard-perfect picture of the American West. That idyllic image is at the heart of the new Victory Ranch, a resort community located 16 miles east of Park City near Utah’s Wasatch Range. “We feel strongly that the best places in the world are created by nature,” says John Gavin, a principal at Sterling Bay, the Chicago-based real estate company developing Victory Ranch. “This is the best parcel in the marketplace, and the primary reason is the four miles of the Upper Provo River flowing through it.” Embracing the prime natural setting, Sterling Bay’s plans for Victory Ranch are in some respects modest. Community officials claim it will be the lowest-density project in the Wasatch Range area upon completion, with just 350…

“DROPS OF FROZEN wine from Eden’s vats” is how Ralph Waldo Emerson described rubies. The 19th-century American poet was not alone in feeling drawn to the deep-red gems. Indeed, they have captivated people for centuries, and some of the most important rubies have legacies that may well outlast those of their owners. One such unforgettable masterpiece is the Faidee Red Emperor ruby-and-diamond necklace shown above. Highlighting 60 rubies weighing 104.51 carats, the striking strand belonged to the collection—amassed over four generations—of the family-owned Faidee jewelry house. It sold for a world-record price of nearly $10 million at a Sotheby’s Hong Kong auction in April 2014. Another enchanting piece, the 8.62-carat Graff Ruby pictured below, sold last November at Sotheby’s Geneva for a record-breaking $8.6 million—more than $1 million per carat.…

OCEANCO For the last 28 years, Oceanco has created some of the largest, most sophisticated and technically advanced yachts in the world. Twelve of its 27 yachts have made the Top 100 Yachts in the World list. Award-winning designs like the 269-foot Alfa Nero, 282-foot Seven Seas, and 300-foot Equanimity are considered the gold standard. The launch of Equanimity makes Oceanco the first yacht builder to have designed and built a luxury yacht compliant with the Passenger Yacht Code. The superyacht has luxurious accommodations for up to 26 guests for both private and charter operations. Oceanco’s yacht-building facilities in the Netherlands have recently expanded to include state-of-the-art sheds and dry docks for yachts up to 140 meters (459 feet). Each Oceanco yacht is built with traditional Dutch devotion to detail,…

WITH THE LAUNCH of Silolona in 2004, Silolona Sojourns began offering custom island-hopping adventures throughout Indonesia’s many and varied archipelagos. In addition to Silolona’s second phinisi, Si Datu Bua, three other new yachts have debuted in recent years, each with its own unique window on the wonders of Indonesia. Amanikan Amanresorts launched this custom-built 105-foot cruiser in 2010. Upholding the high standards the Singapore-based hotel group is known for, the sailing yacht offers refined overnight experiences focused on scuba diving in Komodo National Park and the surrounding islands. Amanikan hosts as many as six passengers in three cabins and comes with a crew of 10, including a private chef and a certified diving instructor. aman.com Amandira Launched in April, Amanresorts’ second phinisi can be chartered solo or in tandem with…

WINEMAKER ALESSANDRO NOLI and I chat at the shaded end of a narrow lane that leads to a farmhouse compound below a natural amphitheater of stacked terraces planted with rows of gnarled grapevines. As Noli turns and leads me down a sand-and-gravel path, I notice that the vineyards and jumbled red-tile roofs perched above the Rhône River appear indistinguishable from the dozens of other, similar properties that populate the hillsides of this mountainous region near the town of Vérin, where Côte-Rôtie remains the reigning red and Condrieu rules among the whites. Nevertheless, the terraces and weathered buildings serve as the source of one of the most historically revered white wines in the world. Since the third century, this south-facing enclave above the waters of the sweeping river has nurtured vines…

AT A TIME when “it bags” have become a symbol of ubiquity, Farbod Barsum remains the preeminent accessories couturier, offering its exclusive clientele one-of-a-kind handbags made of the world’s most luxurious exotic skins, with every detail truly customized. Since 2010, the Beverly Hills-based brand has represented an unparalleled standard of luxury and attention to detail. As a longtime lover of art, design and architecture, he set out to create a vision of an iconic handbag that is as individual as the person who wears it. When you enter the stylish Beverly Hills boutique, you are greeted by a wall of photos of royalty and celebrity clientele and further mesmerized by the sparkle of numerous crystal chandeliers and Jackson Pollock paintings. A-list fans can choose from the most varied collection of…

FASHIONABLE WOMEN worldwide know Christian Louboutin. The French designer’s sexy stilettos, adorned with his trademark red-lacquered soles, are expertly collected and widely coveted. Less known, perhaps, is Louboutin’s own penchant for collecting: His assemblage numbers nearly 400 pairs of men’s shoes, which he stores in his homes in Paris, Lisbon, and Cairo. “I organize them by style, such as spiked, embroidered, black sneakers, and other sneakers,” says the 52-year-old, who has two pairs of some of his favorite models so as not to wear them out. Louboutin’s personal affinity for footwear has recently translated into his brand’s broader collection for fall, a lineup that includes his men’s bench-made dress shoes. Referred to as “city shoes” by their creator, the collection’s latest dress styles are the fruits of a small workshop…

BOB PARSONS IS passionate about golf. Since picking up the game in his early 30s, the founder and former owner and CEO of the domain-name registrar GoDaddy has embraced it with a fervor that few amateurs can match. His dedication has included spending copious amounts of money each year testing out the latest golf equipment and experimenting with custom-fitting solutions, a habit that eventually led him to his new venture—Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG). “In 2012, the last full year before I went into the business, I spent $307,000 [on golf equipment],” recalls the 65-year-old entrepreneur. “So I understood what was good and what wasn’t, and why. That was the genesis of PXG golf.” Parsons’s goal with PXG is simple: to build the best-performing golf clubs possible. He had contemplated such…

IT IS A blazing summer afternoon in Spain’s Duero Valley as Sonal Uberoi uncorks a bottle of Abadía Retuerta Pago Valdebellón. She pours a single glass and hands it over, advising me to “see, swirl, and sniff” before sipping. I dutifully churn the Cabernet Sauvignon in its glass, admiring its deep ruby hue and commenting on its sweet yet spicy scent. Taking a sip, I note fruity and herbal flavors—and, I add hesitantly, perhaps a hint of oak? Uberoi confirms my suspicion before uncorking our next selection, Abadía Retuerta’s Selección Especial, and pouring me another glass. Though she guides me expertly through the vintages, Uberoi is no vintner—and we are not in a tasting room or winery. Rather, I am clad in nothing but a robe and slippers, sitting in…

IN THE NOVEL The Count of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas describes Edmond Dantès—a sailor who became a nobleman—as a man who “has some excellent cigars.” The character inspired the name of the cigar brand that Alonso Menendez created in 1935 in Havana, where, it is said, factory workers enjoyed having the novel read to them by a lector as they rolled cigars. The Montecristo brand flourished under the Menendez family’s direction until the Cuban revolution, when they fled the country after Fidel Castro’s government seized the cigar factories and nationalized the tobacco industry. In the early 1990s, the Florida-based Consolidated Cigar Corp. launched a new version of Montecristos, made in the Dominican Republic by Tabacalera de Garcia, while Cubatabaco, the Cuban state tobacco company, continued to produce its own…

Since launching the Phantom in 1925, Rolls-Royce has bestowed menacing and otherworldly names on its models: Ghost, Spirit, Seraph, Wraith. None is warm and fuzzy; each confers gravitas. Now comes the Dawn, a two-door, four-seat luxury convertible—or rather a drophead coupé, as it is called in England, where a hood is a bonnet, a canvas top is a hood, and a trunk is a boot. Though the model is anything but a lightweight—figuratively and literally, at 5,644 pounds unladen—its name evokes the promise of a bright new day for the marque and all those on board. Things are a bit lighter and sunnier, and maybe even a bit naughty; Rolls-Royce’s marketing material refers to the “early-day chill of dawn [causing] an erotic tingle on the skin” and calls the car…

“I DON’T WORRY about money anymore,” the Iowa businessman Roy Carver was quoted as saying in 1975. “I worry about time—how much time do I have left? Everything I do is based on making as much of the day, the week, the month as I can.” Apparently Carver, who was 65 at the time and had made a fortune as the founder and chairman of a business that made tire-retreading material, meant what he said. That same year he took delivery of Lac II, a 148-foot yacht built by Feadship. Carver would not have to waste any time getting on or off the yacht, because it featured a roll-out deck large enough to hold a Bell 206B Jet Ranger. Lac IIwas the first-ever private yacht with a helicopter landing pad.…