Distinguished single-owner wine collections have repeatedly achieved stellar results in Hong Kong auctions in recent years. For example, Joseph Lau, a Hong Kong real estate tycoon’s cellared wines featured at Sotheby's twice in the past two years. Both recorded a 100 per cent white glove sale rate.
In 2022, wines from Lau’s cellar will reappear in auction. This time, the international auction house is no longer Sotheby's – but its main rival, Christie's.
Christie’s announced that Iconic Wines from Joseph Lau will be auctioned on 13 April. The 89 lots’ total estimate is more than HK$24 million (US$3 million) dollars.
Joseph Lau and his wife, Kimbee Chan
Famous wines from the Domaine de la Romanee-Conti (DRC) – produced in the in large formats – will be amongst the sale's highlights
David Hockney’s The Splash, which was in Lau’s private collection, was sold in 2020
Lau is the former Chairman of property developer, Chinese Estates, most of which he acquired in 1986. After retiring in 2014, the bulk of his fortune is now derived from prime real estate holdings in Hong Kong.
He is a prominent collector across many fields, who is most well-known for his collection of paintings, antiques and jewellery. For example, Lau sold his prized painting – David Hockney’s The Splash, for £23.1 million pounds (around US$30 million dollars) in early 2020.
Christie’s will be offering wines from Lau’s cellar, which may be related to a personnel change at the two international auction houses earlier this year.
Adam Bilbey was recruited from Sotheby’s as Christie’s Global Head of Wine and Spirits Department since January.
He was Sotheby’s Head of Wine and Spirits Department, Asia since 2015. The most expensive foreign wine auction was Tran-scend-ent Wines (held in 2019, sale total: around US$29.9 million dollars); as well as the two Wines from the Cellar of Joseph Lau Parts 1 and 2 Sales (held in 2020 and 2021, sale total: around US$13.4 million dollars), were all orchestrated by Bilbey.
Adam Bilbey
Types of wine
Christie’s sale features a wide range of wines – including DRC Romanee-Conti from 1989 to 2005 in rare large-bottle wine formats, and a group of the best vintages from the legendary winemaker, Henri Jayer’s Vosne-Romanee Cros-Parantoux from 1978 to 1999 in 1.5 litre bottles.
Petrus, Chateau Lafite, Chateau Latour, Mouton Rothschild and other Bordeaux First Growth vintages from 1982 to 2003 are also included.
Sale Highlights:
Domaine de la Romanee-Conti (DRC)
DRC Romanee Conti, 1996, (6 litres)｜1 bottle per lot
Estimate: HK$950,000 – 1,400,000
DRC Romanee Conti, 2005, (standard bottles)｜3 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$420,000 – 650,000
DRC Romanes Conti, 1999, (standard bottles)｜6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$850,000 – 1,300,000
DRC Romanee Conti, 1996, (standard bottles)｜6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$700,000 – 1,100,000
DRC Romanee Conti, 2002, (standard bottles)｜6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$700,000 – 1,100,000
DRC Richebourg, 1999, (standard bottles)｜7 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$280,000 – 400,000
DRC La Tache, 2002, (6 litres)｜1 bottle per lot
Estimate: HK$300,000 – 450,000
DRC La Tache, 2005, (1.5 litres)｜2 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$480,000 – 700,000
Domaine Henry Jayer
Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanee Cros Parantoux, 1999, (standard bottles)｜6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$600,000 – 900,000
Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanee Cros Parantoux, 1990, (standard bottles)｜6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$700,000 – 1,100,000
Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanee Cros Parantoux, 1992, (1.5 litres)｜1 bottle per lot
Estimate: HK$130,000 – 200,000
Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanee Cros Parantoux, 1996, (standard bottles)｜6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$550,000 – 800,000
Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanee Cros Parantoux, 1999, (standard bottles)｜6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$600,000 – 900,000
Henri Jayer, Echezeaux, 1991, (standard bottles)｜12 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$550,000 – 850,000
Henri Jayer, Echezeaux, 1995, (1.5 litres)｜3 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$260,000 – 400,000
Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanee Cros Parantoux, 1992, (1.5 litres)｜1 bottle per lot
Estimate: HK$130,000 – 200,000
Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanee Cros Parantoux, 1993, (standard bottles)｜6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$500,000 – 750,000
Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanee Cros Parantoux, 1995, (1.5 litres)｜1 bottle per lot
Estimate: HK$200,000 – 300,000
Henri Jayer, Echezeaux, 1997, (standard bottles)｜4 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$160,000 – 240,000
Henri Jayer, Echezeaux, 1986, (standard bottle)｜1 bottle per lot
Estimate: HK$42,000 – 65,000
Henri Jayer, Echezeaux, 1991, (standard bottles)｜12 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$550,000 – 850,000
Henri Jayer, Echezeaux, 1993, (standard bottles)｜9 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$400,000 – 600,000
Bordeaux
Petrus, 1990, (1.5 litres)｜6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$320,000 – 480,000
Petrus, 1995, (3 litres)｜2 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$140,000 – 220,000
Le Pin, 2000, (standard bottles)｜6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$140,000 – 220,000
Lafleur, 2005, (3 litres)｜2 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$90,000 – 130,000
Lafleur, 2000, (standard bottles)｜8 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$42,000 – 65,000
Lafite, 1995, (standard bottles)｜12 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$60,000 – 90,000
Lafite, 2000, (3 litres)｜1 bottle per lot
Estimate: HK$38,000 – 55,000
Latour, 2003, (standard bottles)｜12 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$65,000 – 95,000
Latour, 1995, (standard bottles)｜12 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$65,000 – 95,000
Mouton, 1995, (standard bottles)｜11 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$40,000 – 60,000
Auction Details:
Auction House: Christie’s Hong Kong
Sale: Iconic Wines from Joseph Lau
Sale Date: 13 April 2022