‘Philanthropist’s Cellar’ raises US$6m

Mature Burgundy and blue chip Bordeaux shot Hart Davis Hart’s recent sale to a US$9.5 million finish earlier this month, with $6m alone coming from the collection of a single collector.

Taking place at the end of last week and into the weekend, the sale featured all the great collectable names of the old and new worlds.

The best-selling lot of the whole sale was a 12-bottle case of Henri Jayer’s 1996 Vosne-Romanée, Cros Parantoux which went for $119,500.

There was strong bidding for old and rare Madeira, cult Californians, mature claret (which brought in $485,000 altogether).

The single owner collection realised the bulk of the auction’s final tally – $6.2m – with bidders honing in on various lots of top Burgundy (including the Jayer) and old Yquem including a Nebuchadnezzar of the 2007 which sold for $8,962.

“We take pride in having the most accurate auction estimates in the business, so when those estimates are exceeded, it speaks to great demand,” remarked CEO Paul Hart.

“These results demonstrate the continued strength and vitality of the wine market.”