Sotheby’s reveals first tranche of wines in five-part US$50 million auction

Sotheby’s has released an online catalogue of the first tranche of wines to be auctioned in Hong Kong this month in “the most important and valuable wine collection ever to come to the market”.

Almost 8,000 Bottles from the cellar of Taiwanese art collector and businessman Pierre Chen will be offered by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong this month in the first of five auctions.

Each auction will highlight a particular aspects of Pierre Chen’s cellar, and the first sale, titled “The Encylopeadic Cellar”, is designed to give a broader sense of the scope and quality of Pierre Chen’s collection.

Comprising some 8,000 bottles to be offered in 1,500 lots, this first sale will run from 24 to 25 November at Hong Kong’s Mandarin Oriental Hotel.

Together, Sotheby’s expects the wines offered as part of the first auction in Hong Kong to realise over HK$120 million (US$16m/£12.5m). The entire collection – set to be offered over the course of the next twelve months – has been estimated to realise up to US$50 million.

French wines are the focus of the first auction, with a significant range of Italian fine wines also on offer.

The selection ranges from a 1959 Krug and a 1971 Salon de Mesnil to a 1999 J.F. Coche-Dury Meursault Premier Cru; from a 2001 Vosne Romanée Cros Parantoux Magnum from Henri Jayer and a 1990 Clos de Bèze from Domaine Armand Rousseau to a 1947 Cheval Blanc; from a 1971 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche and a 1976 Faiveley Musigny to a 1995 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico.

George Lacey, Head of Sotheby’s Wine, Asia, said of the sale: “The first in the global series of sales, The Encyclopaedic Cellar showcases a snapshot of Pierre’s magnificent collection and presents the opportunity for wine connoisseurs and enthusiasts to taste from the greatest private wine cellar in the world.

“Every bottle in his cellar has been acquired with the intention of one day sharing it with family and friends. And as his expertise and experience matured, Pierre’s collection flourished upon the three core principles of quality, rarity and provenance. Pierre is parting with these bottles ­– many belonging to the rarest and most revered vintages – so that, as he wishes, more people should be able to experience these wines as he and his family and friends do.

“For every bottle of wine presented in The Epicurean’s Atlas, he has kept at least one bottle back for enjoying with his loved ones.”