Christie's Hong Kong's Spring Auction Week started with two wine sales, which were held for three consecutive days. Together, they garnered a sale total of HK$209 million (around US$26.6 million) dollars.
The Visionary’s Spectacular Cellar Sale was held first, where all lots were sold in a white-glove sale – which achieved a sale total of nearly HK$132 million (around US$16.8 million) dollars. It was crowned the most valuable collection of wines by a single owner ever sold at Christie’s globally.
The Visionary’s Spectacular Cellar Sale required four auctioneers to drop the hammer on more than 800 lots
During The Visionary’s Spectacular Cellar Sale, more than 800 lots were offered. Lasting 11 hours, four auctioneers took turns to drop the hammer. Sale proceeds are donated to the collector's alma mater, London Business School, to support its commitment to have a impact on the way the world does business and the way business can positively impact the world.
This auction’s sale total exceeded that of their main rival, Sotheby's wine auctions this season:
- Christie's Hong Kong | The Visionary Spectacular Cellar Sale, May 2022 | Sale Total: HK$131,898,875 (around US$16.8 million)
- Sotheby's Hong Kong | Wine & Spirits Sales, April 2022 | Sale Total: HK$131,298,755 (around US$16.7 million)
Burgundy’s Domaine de la Romanee-Conti (DRC), Romanee-Conti, was the sale’s top lot. A set of 12 bottles dating from 1999, it fetched HK$3 million (around US$382,000) dollars with buyer’s premium – an average value of HK$250,000 (around US$31,000) dollars per bottle.
The 1999 DRC Romanee-Conti is an excellent vintage, and received a high score review of 95 to 99 points out of 100 from prominent American wine critic, Robert Parker.
Lot 5407 | DRC Romanee-Conti, 1999 (standard bottles) | 12 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$1,800,000 – 2,600,000
Sold: HK$3,000,000 (around US$382,000)
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti (DRC) is widely considered as one of the world’s greatest wine producers. Romanee-Conti, La Tache and Montrachet are all products from DRC. Romanee-Conti, which comes from DRC’s most famous vineyard, is considered the best of the best.
Romanee-Conti is a rare vintage wine which has Pinot Noir as the main grape variety, and around 5,000 bottles are produced annually. Due to the wine’s popularity, DRC once had to release one bottle of Romanee-Conti out of a box of 12 wines – in proportion to the harvest of grapes.
Lot 5379 | DRC Romanee-Conti, 1990 (1.5 litres) | 6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$800,000 – 1,200,000
Sold: HK$1,062,500 (around US$135,000)
Lot 5413 | DRC Romanee-Conti, 2004 (3 litres) | 1 bottle per lot
Estimate: HK$750,000 – 1,000,000
Sold: HK$875,000 (around US$111,000)
Lot 5423 | DRC Romanee-Conti, Assortment, 2002 (1.5 litres) | 6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$600,000 – 800,000
Sold: HK$937,500 (around US$119,000)
Other highlight lots:
Lot 5573 | Domaine Leroy, Musigny, 2011 (standard bottles) | 6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$1,400,000 – 1,900,000
Sold: HK$1,875,000 (around US$238,000)
Lot 5485 | Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanee Cros Parantoux, 2000 (standard bottles) | 12 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$950,000 – 1,200,000
Sold: HK$1,375,000 (around US$175,000)
Lot 5303 | Domaine Armand Rousseau, Chambertin, 1996 (1.5 litres) | 6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$400,000 – 550,000
Sold: HK$625,000 (around US$79,000)
Lot 5179 | Chateau Cheval-Blanc, 1947 (1.5 litres) | 2 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$320,000 – 420,000
Sold: HK$600,000 (around US$76,000)
Lot 5691 | Domaine Leflaive, Montrachet, 1996 (1.5 litres) | 3 magnums per lot
Estimate: HK$480,000 – 650,000
Sold: HK$750,000 (around US$95,000)
Sale: The Visionary’s Spectacular Cellar
Date: 21 May 2022
Sale Rate: 100%
Sale Total: HK$131,898,875 (around US$16.8 million)
Held across two consecutive days, The Ultimate Private Collection Featuring The Greatest Burgundies Part II Sale realised HK$77.4 million (around US$9.8 million) dollars. The sale’s most expensive lot was another giant from Burgundy – the Domaine Leroy Grand Cru, Chambertin. A set of 12 bottles of 2009 Domaine Leroy Chambertin fetched HK$1.06 million (around US$140,000) dollars with buyer’s premium – each bottle had an average value of around US$11,000 dollars.
The winery’s owner, Lalou Bize-Leroy, advocates the biodynamic method of growing grapes – meaning farming procedures such as using compost as fertilizer and no pesticides are applied. These methods create the distinctive aroma, flavour and texture of Domaine Leroy wines.
Lot 6482 | Domaine Leroy, Chambertin, 2009 (standard bottles) | 12 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$1,000,000 – 1,500,000
Sold: HK$1,062,000 (around US$135,000)
Lot 6792 | Chateau Lafleur, 1982 (1.5 litres) | 6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$550,000 – 800,000
Sold: HK$875,000 (around US$111,000)
Lot 6500 | Domaine Leroy, Romanee-Saint-Vivant, 2009 (standard bottles) | 12 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$650,000 – 950,000
Sold: HK$812,500 (around US$103,000)
Lot 6413 | Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanee, 1993 (standard bottles) | 12 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$420,000 – 650,000
Sold: HK$812,500 (around US$103,000)
Lot 6493 | Domaine Leroy, Musigny, 2007 (standard bottles) | 3 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$650,000 – 1,000,000
Sold: HK$687,500 (around US$87,000)
Sale: The Ultimate Private Collection Featuring The Greatest Burgundies Part II
Date: 22-23 May 2022
Sale Rate: 94%
Sale Total: HK$77,418,375 (around US$9.8 million)