The Napa Valley's Screaming Eagle provides a surprising top lot in Skinner Auctioneers' Fine Wine auction, which takes place on May 2 in Boston.

Screaming Eagle is very rare, with annual production ranging from 400 to 750 cases

The 10 bottle vertical lot spans almost a decade from 2001-2010 and holds an estimate of $18,000-24,000, which is higher than that of a 12 bottle case of Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2000, a Bordeaux that wine critic Robert Parker awarded a score of 98/100. It is valued at $15,000-25,000.

Screaming Eagle is a cult renowned for its small production numbers, and it is this extreme rarity that accounts for the high estimate. Despite a recent upturn in figures, Bordeaux's poor performance in 2012 has seen investors looking for alternative regions in which to place their money.

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