Acker: ‘Asia markets set strong tempo for 2016’

The New York auction house has reported a positive first sale for 2016 driven by Asian buyers’ continuing demand for top Burgundy.

A collection of 1990 Romanée-Conti headlined Acker, Merrall and Condit’s Hong Kong sale and fetched over its high estimate for HK$370,500 (US$47,806) – followed closely by three bottles each of 1999 and 2005 Romanée-Conti selling for HK$345,800 (US$$44,619) and HK$321,100 (US$41,432) respectively.

Twelve bottle of 1996 and 1999 Henri for Georges Jayer Echezeaux also made an appearance as both sold for HK$271,700 (US$$35,058) and the perennial favourite, La Tache was particularly strong with back vintages of 1993, 1999 and 2005 placing in the top 10 lots.

The New York auction house reported a stronger than ever turn out of buyers outside of Hong Kong, in Shanghai, Taipei and Tokyo as well as a healthy presence of live online bidders which drove the demand for the top lots.

“Chinese collectors were aggressive and came to play.  With all the noise in the media about the markets in Asia, Saturday reminded us that there will always be wealth in this world, and it will always want the world’s finest and rarest wines.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better beginning to 2016,” said Acker, Merrall and Condit’s CEO John Kapon.

Sotheby’s in Hong Kong also boasted a strong start to the year fuelled by the Asia market, this time a high demand for rare Japanese spirits.