Sommaire pour April 2018 de Robb Report

CATCH A WAVE CONCEPT: MINI JET SPIDER DESIGNER: LAZZARINI DESIGN AND JET CAPSULE ODDS OF PRODUCTION: TAKING ORDERS NOW Italian designer Pierpaolo Lazzarini has evolved the Jet Capsule concept on two larger prototypes called the Reptile and the Taxi—but the Mini Jet Spider takes it a step further. The 16-foot craft has a removable carbon-fiber enclosure that transforms it from a buttoned-down boat to an open Jet Ski–style personal watercraft. The lengthwise “pilot seat” has a suspension system that absorbs pounding from waves or turns, which, along with seat belts, ensures that the driver will always be in control. Jet Capsule plans to start production once it has 10 orders for the roughly $85,000 craft. Owners will have a choice of gas, diesel, or electric engines connected to a HamiltonJet…

 As the eldest son of Napa Valley winemaking legend Robert Mondavi, Michael Mondavi became a collector of bottlings both magnificent and mundane almost by default. “I had the luxury of growing up 100 yards from the Charles Krug winery,” says the vintner, referring to the historic property his grandparents Rosa and Cesare Mondavi purchased in 1943. “Then in 1965, my senior year in college, the infamous battle between my father and my uncle came to a head, and we were out. All that my father had of the Charles Krug cellar would fit in the trunk of his car. After we started Robert Mondavi Winery, I wanted to have some older vintages, but they were only available at the Napa Valley Wine Auction [now Auction Napa Valley], and so I…

FILIPINO REAL ESTATE developer Robbie Antonio has always had an eye for art. His Manila residence is filled with modern and contemporary pieces from Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Francis Bacon, and others—a revelation that led the art-collector database Larry’s List to refer to him as “arguably the biggest collector in the Philippines.” In 2015, Antonio merged his loves for art and architecture by founding Revolution Precrafted (revolutionpre crafted.com), a Philippine company that manufactures prefabricated houses dreamed up by leading architects and designers such as Jean Nouvel, Sou Fujimoto, and the late Zaha Hadid. Antonio’s newest venture, Batulao Artscapes (batulao artscapes.com), takes the concept one step further. “It’s meant to be the world’s first livable art park, where you can live in and amongst wonderful works of art,” he says of…

Until about 10 years ago, the vineyard now called Promontory was growing fruit that went unmarked into other Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignons. After serious scrutiny, extensive soil studies, and minimal but high-tech viticulture, that parcel’s steward, Will Harlan, now has confidence that the land can produce—in fact, is producing—the valley’s next bar-setting Cabernet blend. What’s more, he has built a winery complex on a grand scale not only to vinify and age his wines but also to welcome collectors and enthusiasts to come taste them—a surprising move for a member of a family whose vineyard properties have rarely opened their gates to visitors. Through the early 1980s, in pursuit of a plot of land capable of producing a markedly distinctive, exceptional wine akin to the first growths of Bordeaux, Harlan’s…

Jet Edge has built a private-aviation company to service the most sophisticated individuals and families on the planet. With a focus on safety and flawless execution, Jet Edge is one of only six companies to have received all four third-party aviation safety certifications: IS-BAO Stage 3, Wyvern Wingman, ARGUS Platinum, and the FAA’s Aviation Safety Action Program. Jet Edge CEO Bill Papariella has assembled a team that includes a management group with 300-plus years of combined aviation experience, award-winning customer service representatives, and some of the most experienced pilots in the world. Combining this with state-of-the-art technology and facilities ensures that owners with aircraft under Jet Edge management have the best experience in the industry. The entrepreneurial Jet Edge culture pairs this high level of experience with optimization. “We’ve invested…

Known to Europeans as shooting brakes, the cars could, theoretically, be called wagons. When the Panameraarrived on the scene 8 years ago, purists scoffed at the idea of a four-door, front-engine Porsche (mostly the same naysayers who bemoaned the Cayenne SUV’s introduction a few years earlier). Soon, though, the car was outselling large luxury sedans made by Maserati, Bentley, and Aston Martin combined. Porsche knew that, as with its SUVs, there was a market for a sporty, performance-oriented car with room for a family. Now the marque has unveiled its fastest Panamera ever—a plug-in hybrid, no less—along with a new-body-style version that gains even more practicality without sacrificing looks. ¶ The Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid (from $184,400) takes inspiration—and a boost function—from the 918 Spyder. Porsche calls it the new…

Since its debut in 1954, the M-Series of combined range-finder/viewfinder cameras has been the heart and soul of Leica Cameras. Due to their compact size and full-frame format, they have long been a favorite of street photographers and journalists. “It’s ingrained in the history of photography,” says Andreas Kaufmann, chairman of Leica’s supervisory board. “For instance, the most printed picture in the world is probably the [Alberto Korda] picture of Che Guevara. It was shot on a Leica M2.” ¶ The M10, the latest addition to this lauded lineage, is the slimmest digital M to date and the first to support Wi-Fi. Robb Report recently traveled to Leica’s headquarters in Wetzlar, Germany, to see the assembly of the camera and capture the entire process with—of course—an M10.…

It’s Elemental $275,000–$412,000 A 13th-century Arabic translation of Euclid’s Elements—a 13-volume 3rd-century BC treatise that is considered one of the pillars of mathematics—hits the block at Sotheby’s in London on April 25. “The North African manuscript, which was likely penned in Egypt, is densely illustrated with diagrams and marginal notes,” says London-based head of sale Benedict Carter, adding that the scribes rendered the main text in naskh and the titles in thuluth script. “Owing to the medieval Arabic scientific tradition, Greek texts such as this have come down to us, bearing witness to the importance of preserving classical knowledge.” sothebys.com “The laws of nature are but the mathematical thoughts of God.”-EUCLID Timely Offering $50,000–$73,600 A book of hours (use of Rome) with a text rendered by Johannes de Bruolio in…

RESIDENTIAL architects have become the new darlings of the superyacht world. In some cases, they are replacing traditional yacht designers. In most, they are making the familiar, well-established marine design conventions seem like the fashion equivalent of a turtleneck—nice, but not exactly pushing it. Owners are now asking for the style and ambience of home aboard their custom vessels, and they want it delivered with requisite individuality. As a result, they’re enlisting interior-design studios and specialists who know how to achieve a look, not just source a few plush furnishings. Achille Salvagni—whose impressive portfolio includes Central Park pieds-à-terre, London townhouses, and a sought-after collection of furniture and lighting—has ascended to a prestigious position within the superyacht scene. Known for high-level craftsmanship and bespoke, know-them-when-you-see-them details, Salvagni has become the go-to…

Lewis Hamilton greets me in his air-conditioned trailer holding a box of raw cremini mushrooms. “Want one?” he asks, extending his arm. I decline. “Suit yourself,” he says, and pops one in his mouth. “I quite fancy mushrooms. Well . . . not those kind of mushrooms,” he adds with a laugh. ¶ He is still wearing the last look from his earlier photo shoot for Robb Report, an outfit he chose himself after eschewing a more traditional suit. The black trousers and houndstooth-and-velvet coat by Colombian-born designer Haider Ackermann are far too glamorous for our digs—a Star Waggon parked on a dusty runway in Inyokern, roughly 3 hours by car from Los Angeles in Southern California’s high desert. What the locale lacks in panache, however, it makes up for…

Flexjet, one of private aviation’s leaders, continues to expand in all directions, with a growing fleet of aircraft, new private terminals, and an international arm that makes air travel to Europe seamless and stress-free. Recognized with its 18th FAA Diamond Award last year for overall excellence, the company is one of the safest flight providers and it delivers the highest quality service in the industry. Last year, Flexjet took delivery of 18 new aircraft, continuing its reputation for having the youngest fractional fleet in the industry. The company further expanded its mid and super midsize fleet with more Legacy 450 and Challenger 350 deliveries, while significantly bolstering its long-range capabilities, a new focus for the company. Flexjet recently added two large-cabin ultralong-range Gulfstream G650s, as well as G450s and Global…

“These bottles have been waiting for 118 years, so they can wait a few months more.” -LAURENT D’HARCOURT, CHAMPAGNE POL ROGER “We are very excited, as the wines appear to be quite clear, despite being buried for more than a century, and we are convinced they may still be drinkable,” says Laurent d’Harcourt, CEO of Champagne Pol Roger, about the recent discovery of a cache of Champagne that survived a catastrophic cellar collapse in the early hours of the morning of February 23, 1900. Apparently the disaster was precipitated by a spell of cold, damp weather, which caused a massive sinkhole to develop in the chalk substrate into which the wine caves had been carved. In all, 500 casks of wine and 1.5 million bottles of Champagne were lost in…

From Londonto Los Angeles, penthouse prices reached towering levels in 2017. While amenities such as plunge pools, private elevators, summer kitchens, and movie theaters—not to mention on-site concierge services—attract choosy buyers, many of those features can be reproduced in a less lofty address. What cannot be replicated, however, are the views. According to a January 2018 real estate report by Trulia, the greatest indicator of whether a listing was defined as among the upper echelon of opulence within the top 100 metro areas was the presence of noteworthy vistas. Not surprisingly, the penthouses that commanded top dollar last year had notable panoramas. In New York, a unit at 432 Park Avenue (comprising three half-floor residences) above Central Park sold for more than $91 million—the year’s most expensive sale in that…

SUNSEEKER INTERNATIONAL sunseeker.com The new Predator 74 has all the hallmarks of greatness: striking style, remarkable power, and an innovative use of light and space. Guests will fall in love with the comfort and entertaining opportunities, while those at the helm will be in awe of speeds of up to 40 knots. MY FATHER CIGARS myfathercigars.com My Father Cigars is releasing a very special line named Garcia & Garcia after father and son Jose Pepin Garcia and Jaime Garcia. Garcia & Garcia is the brand’s most exclusive and most expensive cigar ever released. The special box of 10 Toro Deluxe (6 ¾ x 54) will have distribution at only a very select number of certified retailers. COLLECTION SUITES collection-suites.com Located in Miami, Fla., Collection Suites delivers a unique offering to…

ricci rally ON A CRISP DAY last autumn, Stefano Ricci (stefanoricci .com) gathered an intimate group of friends and Italian press at Tuscany’s Mugello Circuit to unveil his fall 2018 collection. This was no ordinary fashion show. The Florentine native known for his well-appointed cashmere suits, handprinted silk neckties, and fur-trimmed jackets presented his latest looks alongside 20 of his prized vintage automobiles on the closed racetrack. “This collection represents a new chapter for our brand,” says Ricci, who established the family-owned company in 1972 and currently has 60 stores in 25 countries. “The cars and raceway connect to today’s dynamic, fast-paced men, and we created clothing for their lifestyle.” At the daylong event—where guests rode at top speeds with professional drivers in contemporary Lamborghinis and Ferraris—models in Ricci’s new…

ALLAN QUATERMAIN— protagonist of the 1885 fabulist novel King Solomon’s Mines (and the Indiana Jones of his day)—recounts, “By noon of the third day’s journey we could see the trees of the oasis . . . and within an hour of sundown we were walking once more upon grass and listening to the sound of running water.” Imagining Quatermain’s oasis expanded into a sprawling, resort-size paradise hints at what greets journeyers to this modern-day, 37-acre oasis in the Coachella Valley, which boasts an 11-bedroom, 40,000-square-foot residence; working horse and date farms; a 6-acre Clive Clark–designed golf course; an enormous lake; canals; a petting zoo; horse and bike trails; pickle-ball and tennis courts; a pool and spa; and a helicopter pad. As architect Gregory J. Smith says of the design team—which…

THEY KNOW that I do not do beige,” says British interior designer Celia Sawyer when asked if clients enlist her for a particular style. “It is not my ethos. I want to stand outside of the box and create interiors that move concepts forward.” Glamour is her beat—her layered, sumptuous spaces treat decoration like a high virtue and are defined by her good instincts for either welcoming indulgence or politely switching it to low-power mode. An innate instinct for reading clients guided her work for the owner of this Airbus A340, who wanted “a stylish ‘residence in the sky’ for himself and his family, with spacious, private areas and all the options to entertain business guests while traveling around the world,” according to Sawyer. Having previously collaborated with the client,…

AMONG THE MANY SPECIES OF CONNOISSEUR—PHILATELISTS, OENOPHILES, birders—few can compete with audiophiles for the title of Most Insufferable Person to Be Cornered by at a Cocktail Party. I have been that person for whom first dates have gone terribly wrong, even relationships doomed, by mountains of gear and monstrous loudspeakers. Indeed, my most successful and longstanding relationship might be the 42-year-long affair I’ve had with Stax audio equipment. ¶ The Japanese recording engineer Naotake Hayashi established Showa Ko-On Manufacturing in 1938, renaming it Stax Industries in 1952 and introducing its first pair of “earspeakers” in 1960. At the time, Hayashi could scarcely have imagined that his company would be on the first ripple of a massive consumer wave in the 21st century. Within the last decade, headphones have become the…

THE IRISH IDEAL ADARE MANOR A TROUT-FILLED RIVER runs almost within reach of Adare Manor’s east-facing guest rooms. The ruins of a 13th-century castle lie just beyond the river, while an emerald-green golf course straddles it to the south, bordered along the way by formal gardens, a woodland walking trail, and a country-pursuits academy for aspiring archers and falconers. Just outside the estate’s 842 acres—a single acre shy of Manhattan’s Central Park—sits what prideful locals refer to as the prettiest village in Ireland. ¶ This idyllic Irish estate, located about a half hour’s drive from Shannon in county Limerick, is anchored by the manor house itself—a 19th-century neo-Gothic palace that has been polished to perfection. Originally built at the behest of the second Earl of Dunraven, Adare Manor first opened…