Inhaltsverzeichnis für July 2017 in Robb Report

This summer, Jean-Georges Vongerichten opens two new ventures—one at the Connaught in London and the other at the new Waldorf Astoria in Beverly Hills. Marcus Samuelsson just opened two spots in London’s Curtain Hotel. These starred chefs and their peers oversee some of the world’s most recognized culinary brands. We examine their realms of influence and stir in some up-and-comers—such as Anne-Sophie Pic and the Voltaggio brothers—who are starting to simmer.…

Ducati has brought back the SuperSport (ducati.com) nameplate after a decade-long hiatus and attached it to a beautiful and versatile bike. It’s nimble enough for urban riding, but you can fit it with saddlebags and extend the windscreen for sport touring. The high handlebars and sculpted saddle enable you to ride in a comfortable semi-upright position. The SuperSport and the sportier SuperSport S share the same 937 cu in L-twin engine, which produces 113 hp and delivers 80 percent of its torque at 3,000 rpm. Both models offer three riding modes (urban, touring, sport), three ABS settings, and eight levels of traction control. While the SuperSport comes only in red, the SuperSport S is available in red with matte black wheels or a Star White Silk matte finish with red-painted…

Miami’s Surf Club invented the South Florida scene. Opened in 1930 by the U.S. mogul Harvey Firestone, the Mediterranean-revival retreat on the edge of the Atlantic was the escape for the monied and glamorous. Eighty-seven years later, the club is back to its old ways thanks to a shimmering renovation led by architect Richard Meier. The Four Seasons Hotel at the Surf Club (fourseasons.com) opened in March with a trio of gleaming glass towers, each designed with green Connemara marble, custom furnishings, and floor-to-ceiling windows. The 77-room hotel is as much a renewal as it is a reinvention, maintaining the club’s original Spanish-tile-roofed structures and palm-tree-lined swimming pools while adding such of-the-moment perks as a Champagne bar (developed by the Amalfi Coast’s Le Sirenuse resort) and a Thomas Keller restaurant…

Tome of Tales $83,000 A rare production of the works of Geoffrey Chaucer, published in 1896 by William Morris and illustrated by Edward Burne-Jones. Available through Shapero Rare Books, shapero.com Fit for a King $970,000 A unique presentation copy of Venantius Fortunatus’s Life of St. Radegund, made for King Charles VIII and Queen Anne de Bretagne of France, in 1498. Available through Dr. Jörn Günther Rare Books, guenther-rarebooks.com The Cruelest Month $4,500 A first-edition print of T.S. Eliot’s immortal poem The Waste Land. Available through Biblioctopus, biblioctopus.com Praise Be Price available upon request The Soissons Missal, a 13th-century illuminated liturgical manuscript depicting the Crucifixion for the Canon of the Mass. Available through Les Enluminures, lesenluminures.com Elementary, My Dear…

BÖLE TANNERY Fatherson duo Jan and Anders Sandlund are keeping the ancient methods of leather making alive at their family’s 118-year old Böle Tannery. Nestled on the fringes of the Arctic Circle, Böle is the last spruce-bark tannery in the world—and has been a purveyor to the Swedish royal court since 1996. Leather for each of the brand’s sleek briefcases and rucksacks is manually tanned for up to 12 months in vats full of bark from the spruce trees of the surrounding forest and water that has not been changed for nearly 100 years. This pungent combination means that each bag, like the King Rucksack (shown, about $8,300), takes on a luxuriously rich color and uniquely intoxicating spruce scent. BOLETANNERY.COM RANDERS HANDSKER Denmark’s Randers Handsker was founded in 1811, during…

On April 10,1663, the English diarist Samuel Pepys made history. Earlier that day, at London’s Royal Oak Tavern, he had drunk “a sort of French wine,” he recorded, “called Ho Bryan, that hath a good and most particular taste that I ever met with.” With these words, Pepys became the first writer to salute the excellence of Château Haut-Brion, one of France’s greatest wines. But his remark also alludes to a vinous revolution that was then under way. The wine’s taste was so “particular” because red Bordeaux was changing from a light and quaffable thirst quencher to a rich, structured red capable of sustained and positive evolution in the cellar—what the English diarist’s contemporaries called “New French Claret.” By the time Pepys tasted Haut-Brion, the label had been established for…

Fog poured in from every side,filling the Range Rover–shaped hole I had punched in the dense English air. The adaptive xenon headlights pierced through the veil, blueprinting a narrow road ahead. Drivers heading in the opposite direction no doubt heard the bellow of a 5-liter supercharged V-8 long before they saw its crimson sheath, and those in lesser automobiles instinctively cowered to the farthest edges of their lane. ¶ The Range Rover SVAutobiography Dynamic is the pinnacle of Land Rover engineering. Special Vehicle Operations (SVO), Jaguar Land Rover’s in-house tuning division, has introduced new levels of performance—and comfort—to one of the most iconic SUVs ever built, yet its $170,995 starting figure is still tens of thousands less than its segment competitors. The Dynamic is the fastest full-size Range Rover ever…

Hold Your Horses PALIO DI SIENA JULY 2 AND AUGUST 16, 2017 SIENA, ITALY SIENA’S FAMOUS HORSE RACE has been galloping through the Tuscan city’s main piazza since 1644. Held every summer, the races are short—just three free-for-all laps around the Piazza del Campo that take no more than 90 seconds—but the raucous festivals and traditional ceremonies surrounding them last for days. Join the revelry with Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco’s Private Palio Experience, a 3-night package that gives guests exclusive access to a private palace overlooking the piazza. From there, they’ll enjoy an aerial view of the cobblestone race route and its riotous crowds, as well as the Corteo Storico, a prerace parade that turns the streets of Siena into a medieval spectacle. rosewoodhotels.com We Also Suggest TOUR DE FRANCE…

The word iconicis much used these days, though in the case of the Rolex “Paul Newman” Daytona, the adjective could not be more fitting. When Newman was filming his first racing-themed film, Winning, Rolex dealers couldn’t get the early “exotic dial” Daytonas off the shelves. After this 6239 began to appear on the actor’s wrist, that challenge abated. Decades later, the now-famed Rolex Daytona is one of the most coveted chronographs ever. Initially gifted to Newman by his wife, Joanne Woodward, the actor’s personal Daytona bears the inscription, “Drive Carefully. Me.” Woodward often worried for her husband’s safety when he took to the track, and her words served as a reminder to him on race days. Newman wore the beloved Daytona constantly before gifting it to his…

1 SPECIAL DELIVERY BENETTI SEASENSE “Italian yacht builder Benetti will deliver the 220-foot superyacht Seasense (benettiyachts.it) to its owners in late July. Featuring an exterior design by Cor D. Rover and interior decor by the Los Angeles–based Area, this gorgeous yacht provides an exceptional amount of outdoor space to hang out and soak up the sun and scenery, perhaps best done by the main-deck pool.” —DANIELLE CUTLER 2 DEAR TO THE EAR SENNHEISER HDV 820 “The $2,400 HDV 820 headphone amplifier from the German audio giant Sennheiser (sennheiser.com) features a new onboard digital-to-analog converter that delivers audio with 32-bit resolution and sampling rates as high as 384 kHz. Each compact black unit is equipped with a wealth of inputs and outputs to accommodate various sources and ear speakers, though it…

ROTORCRAFT REIMAGINED CONCEPT: FCX-001 DESIGNER: BELL HELICOPTER ODDS OF PRODUCTION: THE TECHNOLOGY IS COMING The news of Bell Helicopter’s FCX-001 (bellhelicopter.com)—the company’s first-ever concept aircraft—has raised expectations for aeronautic advancement. The high-tech transport, which debuted in March at Helicopter Association International’s Heli-Expo in Dallas, features a hybrid propulsion system comprising a thermal engine and electric motors. The airframe is made of sustainable composite materials and designed to harvest, store, and distribute wind and solar energy. Also on board is an innovative anti-torque system. Located in the rotorless tail boom, it is powered by those electric motors and quietly keeps the aircraft from spinning in the opposite direction of the main rotor. Bell puts a new spin on the rotor by equipping it with blades that shape-shift based on flight conditions,…

GAME ON With the release of its New York Special Edition sneaker, Fratelli Rossetti (fratellirossetti.com) pays homage to its origins in sports footwear. The shoemaker created the limited-edition sneaker ($460) in partnership with Leather Head Sports, a New Jersey atelier that makes custom handcrafted baseballs, footballs, and other sporting equipment. The sneaker comes in black or brown and is available at the Fratelli Rossetti store on Madison Avenue and online. —JACKIE CARADONIO SWIM IN STYLE Known for its comfortable men’s trousers, Slowear Incotex (slowear.com) now offers that same smart fit in its first comprehensive collection of swimwear. The mid-rise, straight-leg designs ($145–$230) are available through MrPorter.com and at Slowear stores. They are made of polyamide with mesh lining and an elastic waistband and come in a range of colors and…

The three-wheel experience begs exploration by driving enthusiasts, because vehicles such as the new Vanderhall Venice (vanderhallusa.com)—which rides on a trio of 18-inch aluminum wheels—offer the exhilaration of a motorcycle with greater stability and protection. The Venice’s steering response is instantaneous, making curvy roads a delight. But even straight, open highway is an adventure when the road rushes by so close to the cockpit. The Venice, which is constructed in Provo, Utah, and priced from just under $30,000, is built on a light and strong aluminum chassis. The chassis cradles a General Motors–sourced 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 engine that produces 180 hp and emits a throaty growl. It’s paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The formed composite body wraps the machine and has a slightly retro look—think Lotus 7. The Venice…

“I make a pretty good fried chicken at Blue Dragon. But this was real fried chicken from the South.”—MING TSAI When Robb Report hosted nine top chefs—including Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, and Jérôme Bocuse—for its Culinary Masters event at South Carolina’s Montage Palmetto Bluff last September, their creations were the stars of the show. However, the resort’s elevated interpretations of traditional Southern fare seemed to impress the guest chefs at least as much as any of their own dishes. “I make a pretty good fried chicken at Blue Dragon,” said Ming Tsai, chef of the Boston restaurant. “But this was real fried chicken from the South. And those barbecued oysters and grits!” Other favored local dishes included chicken-liver toast served from the Palmetto Bluff food truck and…

LE TORRI DI BAGNARA— LUXURY CASTLES COLLECTION letorridibagnara.it Nothing can compare to the opulence, heritage, and historic appeal of calling a true castle your home. These luxury villa-castles, located within a 1,500-acre private estate, were renovated to enjoy as an exclusive Umbria and Tuscany vacation resort with a dedicated, professional staf f. OCEANCO builtbyoceanco.com Jubilee, Infinity, Equanimity, and Nirvana—are we talking metaphysics, meditation, and transcendence? No, we are talking about the latest yachts by Oceanco, the leading-edge custom builder of the world’s finest and largest superyachts. All have the distinction of appearing in the World’s Top 100 Yachts list. PADRÓN CIGARS padron.com The Dámaso line of cigars offers a complex mild to medium flavor profile. This round, mild, flavorful, hand crafted, limited production cigar is made with an Ecuadorian Connecticut…

That Queen Elizabeth II could even stand at her coronation under the weight of the 3-pound Imperial State Crown laden with a 317-carat diamond, enormous rubies, emeralds, sapphires, hundreds of pearls, and thousands of smaller diamonds remains a remarkable feat of endurance. The royal scepter, with its famous 530-carat Cullinan I diamond—the largest cut diamond in the world—is no lightweight accessory either, nor should it be: The crown jewels are tangible symbols not only of the power and prestige of the monarchy but of its continuity. Crowds gather daily at the Tower of London to view these treasures and to connect with the rich history that they represent. Yet royal fascination with fine jewelry is not confined to the ornaments reserved for state ceremonies; indeed, nearly every generation of royalty…

The village of Porto Cervo, on Sardinia’s 35-mile-long Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast)—home to some of Europe’s most expensive residences and some of the world’s priciest hotels—has been described as a hideaway for the upper crust, an exclusive playground for celebrities, oligarchs, supermodels, and playboys. ¶ This was not necessarily the intention of the person credited with creating Porto Cervo and the rest of Costa Smeralda. In 1964, 2 years into the region’s development, Prince Shah Karim Al Hussaini, Aga Khan IV—the business magnate, philanthropist, and spiritual leader of the world’s 15 million Ismaili Muslims—told an interviewer, “We are not foolish. We realize that there simply are not enough millionaires or playboys to make a 35-mile resort area prosper. There will be houses, restaurants, nightclubs, shops, and sporting facilities for wallets…

It was a pivotal moment in art-market history. Paul Cézanne’s The Card Players—one in a series of five known paintings—had achieved a landmark record, bringing in an unprecedented $250 million through a private sale. The price was practically unimaginable, nearly double the previous record for any painting. But the biggest shock of the 2011 sale came nearly a year later, when the buyer was at last revealed to be neither a Geffen nor a Broad, but rather an al-Thani. Three years later, the Qatari monarchy dropped jaws again, picking up Paul Gauguin’s Nafea Faa Ipoipo (When Will You Marry?) in another private sale for $300 million. Out of nowhere, the ruling family from the Middle East had become the art world’s biggest player. Royals, of course, have long been known…

The Andes Mountains loom large along the vast Peruvian Altiplano, their jagged peaks rising from shimmering lakes and sweeping flatlands like a massive scribble across the sky. Such an expanse—interrupted only occasionally by a wandering gaucho or wayward alpaca—could easily overwhelm. For passengers aboard the new Belmond Andean Explorer, however, the view is an intimate one, enjoyed at a leisurely pace with a pisco sour in hand and an alpaca blanket around the shoulders. Debuted in May, the 24-cabin train is the first luxury sleeper locomotive to ride the rails of one of South America’s most beguiling destinations. The Andean Explorer takes travelers on 2- and 3-day journeys to the White City of Arequipa, the shores of Lake Titicaca, and the ancient capital of Cusco. Activities along the way might…

For years on his way to and from work, investment professional Lee Munder drove past a West Palm Beach art-deco mansion designed by Belford Shoumate in 1937. Shoumate was responsible for some 1,500 structures in the area before he died in 1991, leaving behind a stunning architectural legacy including Bermuda, colonial, and art-deco styles that changed the complexion of this affluent, primarily Mediterranean revival–style winter playground. One day, Munder saw a man putting up a “for sale” sign on the front lawn. Located in the El Cid Historic District and facing the Intracoastal Waterway, the home had been sold only once before, to the Marshmans, who were now divesting themselves of it. “I went by that evening and asked them to take the sign down,” recalls Munder. “It took only…

CANNES YACHTING FESTIVAL cannesyachtingfestival.com Nestled in the heart of the French Riviera, the Cannes Yachting Festival celebrates its 40th anniversary this year from September 12 through 17. The show gathers 600 boats and yachts from 6 to 164 feet, with nearly 100 world premieres, along the glamorous Croisette. BEVOLO GAS & ELECTRIC LIGHTS bevolo.com The delicate contour and horseshoe shape of the Bevolo London Street Yoke Lantern create a handsome hanging lantern that accurately complements formal architectural elements. Available in natural gas, propane, and electric. DDC AWARD WINNER ddcnyc.com Project and product winners for the NYCxDESIGN Awards were announced May 20 at the Museum of Modern Art in a ceremony hosted by editor in chief Cindy Allen. Two awards went to ddc in the product category: Liquefy by Patricia Urquiola…

THE COLLECTOR The Stibbert Museum, one of the most fascinating and unexpected places in Florence, displays the range of the world’s craftsmanship and artistry in all of its manifestations, from arms to art. The finest Italian fashion takes precedence in the uniquely crafted rooms and halls, presenting the gentleman’s wardrobe, a personal assemblage of the STEFANO RICCI Fall/Winter 2017-18 Collection, and mirroring that of the renowned patron Frederick Stibbert (1838-1906). Each article is created through a cultivation of elegance, an attention to detail, and a meticulous care in combining materials and colors. It is a triumph of geometries, enhanced by the features of the iconic Africa design. It is this sense of style that makes STEFANO RICCI a summa of tailoring and tradition, with research and experimentation which never compromises…

A meeting between the senior management of Hublot (hublot.com) and fashion marketer Lapo Elkann at a 2012 New York charity event proved highly fortuitous for the watch brand. Not only did Elkann—a member of the powerful Agnelli automotive family—play a key role in securing a partnership between Hublot and Ferrari, but his own ability to marshal fashionable touches for Hublot watches is beginning to pay dividends in the form of a series of limited editions designed in conjunction with his company, Italia Independent. Whereas the first edition matched a Big Bang watch model clad in Texalium laminate with a similarly constructed pair of sunglasses, the second edition, released this year, has taken Hublot into new stylistic territory. Elkann tapped his friend Luca Rubinacci to provide access to the Italian tailor’s…

The 1965 Shelby G.T. 350 changed the perception of the original Ford Mustang, which Carroll Shelby initially dismissed as a “secretary’s car” when Ford president Lee Iacocca asked him to transform it into a racecar. Shelby’s modified Mustang was a competition champion, and while only 562 examples were produced for that first model year, the G.T. 350 name—like its bellowing side-exit exhausts—still resonates with performance enthusiasts. Ford revived the Shelby GT350 (minus the periods and space in the name) and added it to the Mustang lineup in 2015. So that owners can fully appreciate the capabilities of their new toy, Ford now offers a complimentary one-day track-and-classroom experience (and a dinner reception the evening prior) called GT350 Track Attack (gt350trackattack.com). It takes place at the Ford Performance Racing School at…

GRAND INCLUSIONS Two beach clubs (one at the bow and the other at the stern), an optional sundeck, a master suite with a foldout balcony, a three-deck spiral staircase with onyx steps—these are the types of features you find on a yacht much larger than the new Azimut Grande 35 Metri (azimutyachts.com). But the 115-footer has these and more. The interior designer Achille Salvagni made excellent use of the yacht’s 25-foot beam, creating grand spaces for the saloon and master suite. Both feature minimalist decor, contrasting hardwoods, and floor-to-ceiling windows. —MICHAEL VERDON A NEW SPIN The audio-component manufacturer Mark Levinsonknown for producing impressive amplifiers, preamplifiers, and disk players—has released its first-ever vinyl-record player. The No. 515 (marklevinson.com), created to celebrate the company’s 45th anniversary, is a triple belt-driven turntable with…

Tucked away on the northeastern tip of New Zealand’s scenic South Island, the celebrated wine-making district of Marlborough has a new reason to raise a glass: The 10-suite Marlborough Lodge (themarlboroughlodge.co.nz) has reopened as the region’s most luxurious new retreat among the vines. Sixteen acres of parkland—with shady trees, formal knot gardens, vineyards, and a small lake—make a manicured home for the hotel, which is set within a circa-1901 heritage structure that has been artfully restored by the Auckland-based interior designer Peter Lloyd. This being New Zealand, however, the real appeal lies outside, at the estate’s gardens (where head chef Jason Brown plucks fresh produce and herbs to pair with king salmon, green-shell mussels, and more) and nearby Marlborough Sound (where the lodge’s MV Tarquin cruises from bay to bay).…

ISLAND TIME Eleven Experience—the outfitter known for high-octane resorts in adventure destinations like Colorado and Iceland—is dialing things down for its latest property. Set on sleepy Harbour Island, the pastel-pink Bahama House (elevenexperience.com) opened in January with 11 guest rooms and cottages, all luxuriously outfitted with a mix of tropical (seashell lamps and tree prints) and contemporary decor. Guests can spend their days on the water, snorkeling, bonefishing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. For an experience more fitting of Eleven’s venturesome reputation, they can also jet away on a Scorpion rigid inflatable boat to the nearby island of Eleuthera for hiking, diving, and cliff jumping. —PHOEBE NEUMAN FARM FRESH Bosjes (bosjes.co.za) is the latest Cape Winelands property to master the region’s historic-farm-turned-luxury-retreat trend. Opened in March on a 2,500-acre estate at the…

A COMPACT CAVE This stylish wine cabinet ($2,679) from Liebherr (liebherr.com) fits seamlessly into smaller spaces such as yacht galleys or wet bars and holds up to 18 bottles on its handcrafted wood shelves, which are designed explicitly for the safe storage of Bordeaux wines. The glass doors of the 24-inch-wide HWgb1803 protect against UV damage, and the interior LED lighting generates minimal heat, so cherished vintages may be made visible without concern. —J.O. SCOTCH TABLE Until recently, Scotland’s larder was best known for haggis and shortbread. In the last decade, however, Edinburgh in particular has come of culinary age, spawning a supercharged dining scene. Taisteal (taisteal.co.uk), the newest addition to that landscape, hides its ethos within its name, which is Scots Gaelic for “journey.” Chef Gordon Craig has cooked…

As horse racing is the sport of kings, so Champagne is the drink of kings—as well as queens, princesses, princes, and every other member of the royal household, including an official mistress or two. Indeed, no other wine rivals Champagne’s many ties to Europe’s ruling houses—thanks to the untiring intrigues of the great maisons of Champagne, who in many cases sought to promote their products through royal and aristocratic associations. Their collective campaign encompasses the celebratory glamour of the multiple coronations of French kings at the Reims Cathedral; battles with Burgundy for royal attention, when Champagne was still an anemic red wine; triumph during the long reign of Louis XIV of France, whose physician prescribed large daily doses of Champagne; daring forays across battle lines by the maisons’ representatives, who…

The British royals, young and old, are a discriminating bunch when it comes to everything from clothing and accessories to umbrellas and footwear. But even after these privileged patrons deem a brand worthy of their custom—which, in some cases, can be more valuable than a social-media star’s endorsement—a rigorous approval process is required before a vendor can be awarded the official warrant. Following are some of the House of Windsor’s most favored favorites, some of which have been serving its members for multiple generations. HENRY POOLE & CO. Since establishing the first tailor shop on Savile Row in 1846, Henry Poole & Co. has clothed an astonishingly regal roster that includes Emperor Napoléon III, Queen Victoria, King Edward VII, Emperor Hirohito, and a lengthy list of tsars and maharajas. The…

When Rolls-Royce launches the all-new Phantom in July in London, the car will be accompanied by an important example of each of the seven previous Phantom series. Representing the second series will be the Star of India, a one-of-a-kind 1934 Phantom named after the 563-carat sapphire from Sri Lanka that’s now in New York’s American Museum of Natural History. The car features saffron-colored paintwork symbolizing the purity of Hinduism. The fenders and hood are a brilliant polished aluminum to reflect the intense Indian heat. Etched into each door, the hood, and the glass of the side windows is the crest of Rajkot, one of India’s pre-independence princely states. Above each crest is a Sanskrit motto that translates as, “The one who fulfills the obligation of the happiness and welfare of…

HOUSE OF CREED When Queen Victoria appointed the House of Creed as the fragrance supplier to the British royal court in 1845, she also commissioned her own signature scent distilled from the world’s finest roses. Today the queen’s enduring fragrance, Fleurs de Bulgarie, continues to be crafted in Creed’s French laboratory using the same age-old methods—and continues to be enjoyed by nobles and commoners alike. Throughout its more than 250-year history, Creed has served an illustrious assortment of royals, beginning with its first commission from King George III in 1780—a blend of mandarin, ambergris, and sandalwood—which was christened Royal English Leather. Bespoke scents not only reflected a royal’s sensibility but also revealed subtle hints about the wearer, which explains why the onetime King Edward VIII, later the Duke of Windsor,…

CHARTERING ANKA Builder: Princess Yachts Delivered: 2015 Length: 132 feet Cabins: 5 Guests: 12 Cruising Areas: Caribbean in winter; Mediterranean in summer Weekly Rates: $135,000 to $150,000 winter; $166,000 summer (prices based on the euro–dollar exchange rate in mid-May) Highlights: A full flotilla of water toys, a professional-grade galley, an expansive beach club, a spacious sundeck with a hot tub and outdoor bar, and an alfresco dining table on the upper deck. Contact: princessyachtcharter.com If you want to cruise inconspicuously in a charter yacht, Anka may not be your best choice. The hull of the 132-foot trideck from England’s Princess Yachts is painted a vibrant turquoise that is sure to draw attention wherever it travels. The color was selected by the yacht owners’ young daughter and dubbed Turquoise Island by the…