La Chapelle lights up Sotheby’s last sale of the season

An ex-cellar consignment of Hermitage La Chapelle helped Sotheby’s end its Hong Kong season on a high thanks to enthusiastic bidding.

The two-day sale at the new salesroom in Hong Kong Gallery at Pacific Place, Admiralty, made HK$29.6 million (US$3.8m), with bidding for the Rhône and white Bordeaux particularly fierce.

The leading Rhône lot was the 1961, three bottles of which sold for HK$171,500 each.

Jamie Ritchie, president, Americas & Asia, Sotheby’s Wine, said: “Following our very successful sale of Hermitage La Chapelle in New York in 2011, we were delighted to offer a similar range of wines, direct from the cellars of Paul Jaboulet Aîné, in Hong Kong this weekend.

“The results proved that La Chapelle is as much admired in Asia, as it is in both the Americas and Europe, with these wines achieving HK$3.4m/US$435,000, 10% over their high estimate and were 100% sold.

“We would like to thank Caroline Frey and her colleagues at Paul Jaboulet Aîné, for their enthusiastic support on our collaboration together.”

Bidding was strong also for Haut-Brion’s white wine, something seen at the Zachy’s sale in the city last month as well.

A case of Haut-Brion Blanc 2006 went for HK$56,350, 144% over its high estimate, another case of 2003 made HK$51,450 (HK$48,000 high estimate) and a case of 2002 Laville Haut-Brion made HK$13,475 (HK$9,000).

In fact, all of the 13 white Haut-Brion lots – bar one – went over their high estimates.

In total this year, Sotheby’s has sold over 5,000 lots in Hong Kong to the value of HK$210m (US$27m).The last sale of the London season takes place tomorrow (12 December).