This is a fabulous collection from a formidable connoisseur, a friend of many of Europe’s finest winemakers. For me, it is also a meeting of minds and palates, with a personal connection that makes it unique, in the true sense of the word. This is a sale of legendary proportions and tremendous excitement that will enhance the lives of wine lovers everywhere.
Sotheby’s Wine will present The Ultimate European Cellar From a Visionary Collector, a landmark single-owner wine sale featuring over 970 lots of Europe’s greatest wines (estimated at HK$60-82 million / US$7.7-10.6 million), in Hong Kong on 28 May.
This extraordinary collection comes to the market from the cellar of a passionate wine lover with exceptional taste and an enduring quest for excellence, who formed strong relationships over the years with some of the finest wine producers. Amassed over decades, the depth and breadth of the collection is a result of regular visits to vineyards, assessments of vintages, crus and terroirs, study of winemaking methods and changes with generations, followed by astute and perceptive wine buying.
It is a great privilege for us to be entrusted with the sale of such an extraordinary cellar, one of the most historic collections to come to market in recent memory. Both in terms of scale and provenance, this collection is a glorious testament to a visionary collector. But as so often happens, that passion can lead to cellar overcrowding, resulting in a truly wonderful opportunity for wine lovers from across the world to appreciate and nurture these spectacular bottles.
The sale offers a broad range of the greatest wines from top French producers spanning three centuries, presenting an amazing opportunity for any wine collectors to widen horizons, and to compare growers, châteaux, vintages and epochs.
The sale boasts an outstanding offering of Burgundies, featuring 75 lots of Henri Jayer (estimated in excess of HK$29.8 million / US$3.8 million), and 75 lots of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti spanning seven decades (estimated in excess of HK$7 million / US$916,000).
Highlights from Bordeaux include 63 lots of Petrus spanning almost a century including the legendary vintages of 1945 and 1947, and from the Left Bank, Mouton Rothschild in a variety of formats. Historical vintages include Lafite 1898, and a sensational range of historical Yquem, with the oldest vintage dating back to 1865.
Alsace highlights are headed by Trimbach Clos Sainte Hune, whilst epic Hermitage La Chapelle vintages lead the Rhône offerings, signaling the collector’s friendship with the former owning family.
Sale Highlights
Vosne Romanée, Cros Parantoux 1999 Henri Jayer
12 bottles in original case, est. HK$800,000 - 1,100,000 / US$100,000 – 140,000
Vosne Romanée, Cros Parantoux 1990 Henri Jayer
6 magnums, est. HK$1,400,000 - 2,000,000 / US$180,000 – 240,000
La Tâche 1985 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
12 bottles in original wooden case, est. HK$320,000 - 450,000 / US$40,000 – 55,000
Romanée Conti 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
1 bottle in original wooden case, est. HK$130,000 - 180,000 / US$16,000 – 22,000
Montrachet 1992 Domaine Ramonet
2 magnums, HK$130,000 - 180,000 / US$16,000 – 22,000
Montrachet 1992 Domaine Leflaive
2 bottles in individual original wooden cases, est. HK$100,000 - 150,000 / US$12,000 – 19,000
Château d'Yquem 1865
1 bottle, est. HK$100,000 - 150,000 / US$12,000 – 19,000
Château Lafite 1898
2 bottles, est. HK$42,000 – 60,000 / US$5,000 – 7,500
Petrus 1945
1 bottle, est. HK$60,000 - 80,000 / US$7,500 – 10,000
THE ULTIMATE EUROPEAN CELLAR IN NUMBERS
970+ lots in total, estimated at HK$60-82 Million / US$7.7-10.6 Million
75 lots of Henri Jayer, spanning 6 decades, including:
· 29 lots of Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux estimated in excess of HK$19 million, including 1978 in magnum, 1990 in magnum, and 1999 in original carton
· 9 lots of Richebourg, including 1959, 1978 in magnum, and 1985
· 19 lots of Échezeaux, including 1985 and 1990
· 9 lots of Vosne-Romanée
75 lots of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, spanning 7 decades, including:
· 19 lots of Romanée-Conti, including 1990 and 1999 in original wooden case
· 24 lots of La Tâche, including a jeroboam of 1990, and 1985 in original wooden case
· 10 lots of Romanée St Vivant
· 6 lots of Grands Échezeaux
· 11 lots of Échezeaux
63 lots of Petrus spanning 9 decades, estimated in excess of HK$5.5 million, highlighting:
· Legendary vintages: 1945, 1947 and 1949
41 lots of Domaine Ramonet spanning 4 decades, including:
· 21 lots of Montrachet
· 6 lots of Bâtard Montrachet
· 6 lots of Bienvenues Bâtard Montrachet
83 Lots of Yquem spanning 3 centuries, highlighting:
· Historic vintages: 1865, 1890, 1900, 1908
39 lots of Coche-Dury spanning 3 decades
12 lots of Trimbach spanning 4 decades, highlighting:
10 lots of Trimbach Clos Ste Hune, including the 1990 vintage
