1970 DRC leads $1.3m Bonhams auction

Sales of fine wine raised US$1.3m at Bonhams in San Francisco last week, with Domaine de la Romanée-Conti demonstrating its continued popularity in the American market.

Six magnums of 1970 Romanée-Conti topped last Friday’s sale, going for $53,550. They came from the estate of San Francisco surgeon Dr Maurice Galante, described as “an avid collector” of a variety of regions.

Other bottles from his underground home cellar also went for high sums including 11 bottles of 1959 Château Haut-Brion which went for $7,140, and six bottles of 1976 Krug Vintage Champagne for $5,355.

Throughout the 909-lot auction, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti dominated. The most expensive single bottle was a 1993 Romanée-Conti that raised $9,520.

Further sales of DRC included three bottles of 2005 Romanée-Conti that achieved $35,700, 12 bottles of 1993 La Tâche that took in $26,180 and 11 bottles of 1990 Richebourg that sold for $26,180.

Burgundy generally made a good showing with 12 bottles of 1993 Domaine Leroy, Clos de Vougeot, raising $10,710.

Bordeaux also made a strong appearance, including 12 bottles of 2000 Château Margaux that fetched $9,520, six magnums of 2000 Château Cheval Blanc that took in $9,520 and one imperial bottle (6l) of 1982 Château Mouton Rothschild that achieved $9,520.

Local Californian wines were also represented as three bottles of 2010 Screaming Eagle sold for $6,545.

Bonhams’ next auction of Fine & Rare Wines in the US will taking place on 20 March, 2015 in San Francisco.