THE FINE WINES AUCTION SEASON STARTED IN HONG KONG WITH A BANG... RECORD SALES OF 34.7 MILLION DOLLARS IN JANUARY. THE HIGHEST PRICED LOT? 8 BOTTLES OF 1985 HENRI JAYER RICHEBOURG AT 100 THOUSAND 103 DOLLARS…

In 2010 Hong Kong toppled the United States and became the capital of international wine auctions. Judging by the first four sales in 2011, it looks as though they have decided to not let go of the title. Between January 21st and 23rd, 2.611 lots were auctioned at Sotheby’s and Acker Merrall & Condit in Hong Kong, for a value of 25 and a half million dollars. During the month of January Zachys sold another 1.007 lots for a total of 9 million two hundred thousand dollars.
In January 2010 in Hong Kong, however, 1.800 lots were sold for a total of 14 million 400 thousand dollars. At Sotheby’s auction on January 22nd sales totaled 5.6 million dollars, surpassing the estimate of 4.1 million dollars. Asian buyers took the top bids: a case of 1982 Château Petrus for 77 thousand 564 dollars, a dozen bottles of 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild for 58 thousand 949 dollars and six bottles of 1996 Romanée-Conti for 55 thousand 846 dollars.

The highlight of the second auction at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong (January 23rd, total sales 9 million dollars) was a lot of vintage 2000 Bordeaux wines. A case of vintage 2000 Château Mouton-Rothschild was sold for 27 thousand 923 dollars; a dozen bottles of 2000 Château Palmer were sold for 4 thousand 964 dollars and 12 bottles of Château Angelus for 5 thousand 985 dollars. A case of 2000 Chateau Petrus was sold for 65 thousand 153 dollars and 48 mixed bottles of vintage 2000 Haut-Brion, Latour, Margaux and Petrus sold for 124 thousand 102 dollars.

The Acker Merrall & Condit auctions held in Hong Kong on January 21st and 22nd, auctioned 1.203 lots for a total of 10.8 million dollars and represented the record of the month. Again, Asian clients were the top buyers with the Chinese in first place. Which lots had the highest value? Eight bottles of 1985 Henri Jayer Richebourg sold for 100 thousand 103 dollars; a case of 1978 Romanée-Conti La Tâche sold for 65 thousand 692 dollars; two cases of 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild sold for 75 thousand 076 dollars each.

Source: www.winespectator.com