Burgundy takes the lead in Acker auction

On the cusp of its 200^th anniversary, Comte Liger-Belair sets new world records at Acker Merrall & Condit’s HK auction last weekend.

A superlot of every bottle made by owner, Louis Michel went for HK$494,000 (pictured), the highest price ever paid for the Vosne-Romanée Domaine as well as four other vintages of La Romanée selling high above the original estimates.

Acker’s top 10 lots were all Burgundies and from three major producers, Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Comte Liger-Belair and Henry Jayer. Other producers who broke through the record barrier were Leroy, Rousseau, Dujac, Meo-Camuzet, Comte de Vogue, Domaine Leflaive, Comtes Lafon, Bouchard, Drouhin and Jadot.

The auction occurred just as Acker released its iPhone and Android app for live auction bidding. Acker also held simulcasts of Saturday’s sale in three leading Asia markets, Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei which resulted in almost 20 per cent of total sales.

Acker’s chairman, John Kapon commented: “It was an honour to help Louis-Michel Liger-Belair celebrate the Domaine’s 200th anniversary throughout the week in Hong Kong and I could not be happier and prouder that we set an unprecedented number of world records and the highest price ever paid for a Comte Liger-Belair lot on Saturday at our auction.

“That Louis Michel Liger-Belair is one of Burgundy’s greatest winemakers is obvious to anyone who tastes the quality inside his bottles, and it is something the marketplace clearly recognizes now, too. With successful simulcasts in Beijing, Shanghai and Taipei, and the launch of a new app, Acker Merrall remains committed to deliver to our clients the best experience and service in the fine wine market.”