Domaine d’Auvenay tops Sotheby’s wine sale in Hong Kong

Auction house Sotheby’s rounded up its two-day sale with a total of HK$131 million, with 12 bottles of D’auvenay Chevalier Montrachet in original wooden cases from 1997 and 1998 ranking top.

Held on 23 -24 April, the event garnered some of Asia’s most rare and in-demand wine selections from the Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne region, as well as the most sought-after Japanese whiskies.

Top lots include a Methuselah of 1976 DRC Romanée Conti 1976, sold for HK$1,250,000, and Burgundy whites such as three bottles of Chevalier Montrachet 2011 Domaine d’Auvenay, sold for HK$562,500. A 12-bottle lot of D’auvenay Chevalier Montrachet in original wooden cases from 1997 and 1998s, sold for HK$1,625,000.

In the spirits section, some rare Japanese and Scotch whiskies were sold at top prices, including a full set of 36 bottles of Karuizawa’s 36 Views of Mount Fuji series, sold for HK$1,375,000, a Yamazaki 35-Year-old, sold for HK$1,000,000, and The Macallan Lalique Genesis Decanter 72-Year-Old, sold for HK$875,000.

Jamie Ritchie, worldwide chairman, Sotheby’s Wine & Spirits, said: “There is no doubt that Asia continues to power the global wine and spirits market, and sets the bar for the strength of buying across the board – whether for the rarest wines from Burgundy or for spirits from leading distilleries in Scotland and Japan.

“Asian bidding dominated throughout this weekend’s sales, led by robust demand from collectors in Hong Kong, and with participation from mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore. For some time now we have seen a burgeoning interest amongst a younger generation that is both casting the net wide in their tastes and willing to acquire the very best the market has to offer.”

Paul Wong, head of Sotheby’s Wine & Spirits Auction, Asia, said: “We saw strong results across the board this season, which once again demonstrates our market leadership in Asia as the go-to auction house for rare bottles.

“As we have seen time and again, great wines with great provenance have a proven track record with buyers who truly value impeccable single-cellar collections – as in seasons past, our expectations were exceeded. Intense bidding from collectors in Asia, who were also competing with collectors from across Europe and North America, bodes well for the exciting roster of sales lined up for the remainder of the year.”

According to the auction house, Asia continues to lead in the global Wine and Spirits market: Last year, this region accounted for more than half of the buyers for Sotheby’s global sales (52% for wine) and (51% spirits).