Henri Jayer tops lots at Chicago sale

A case of 1990 Henri Jayer Cros Parantoux sold for US$113,525 at Hart Davis Hart’s first auction of the season in Chicago.

The Burgundy, a firm favourite with collectors, was the top lot at the sale which realised $4.4million and saw bidders from across the US and the world participate.

Despite the Bordeaux-focused nature of the sale only three of the top lots were from the region, a case apiece of 1982 and 2008 Pétrus and 12 bottles of 2009 Lafleur.

With Jayer taking the top spot, the rest of the biggest sellers were various cases and assortments of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

While the majority of the leading lots stayed comfortably within their estimates, others did rather better – magnums of Burgundy in particular.

Three magnums of 1991 Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Bèze sold for $16,730 (high estimate $12,000); another three magnums of Rousseau Chambertin made $10,755 ($5,500) and a Jeroboam of 1988 DRC La Tâche made $7,768.

Cases of Latour, Margaux and Mouton Rothschild also sold well above their estimates.

CEO Paul Hart said: “This was an exciting start to 2013. Demand for carefully collected wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy and California is booming.”

The next auction on 23 March will be devoted solely to Burgundy – just like Christie’s upcoming Hong Kong sale.