Auction house Christie’s is kicking off its spring auction season with four impressive sales this month to meet the growing demand for top-quality wines amid Asia’s fast expanding fine wine market.
The four sales including two live auctions and two online auctions will reflect the breadth and depth of offerings from the auction house that span Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Rhône, and premium Scottish and Japanese whiskies.
The two live sales on 24 – 25 May at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre consist of the “Finest and Rarest Wines Featuring Four Stunning Cellars and Library Vintages Direct from Château Léoville Poyferré” and “An Exceptional Private Cellar Part II“. Two online-only sales will also run concurrently from 26 May to 7 June, titled “A Dazzling DRC Collection from a French Private Cellar: Online” and “A Blue-Chip Burgundy Collection Purchased on Release: Online.”
Expressing her excitement on the upcoming sales, Michelle Chan, Head of Wine and Spirits, Christie’s Asia Pacific, enthused: “We are thrilled to bring forth an exceptional line-up of auctions this season, highlighting the breadth and depth of our wine offerings. These four outstanding sales feature a diverse range of wines and spirits at attractive price points, catering to both seasoned collectors and new enthusiasts.
“Our curation includes some of the finest wines from private cellars across the world, reflecting Christie’s longstanding success and heritage in curating the very best for our clients. Spanning Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Rhône, and premium Scottish and Japanese whiskies, these auctions are a testament to our commitment to offering unparalleled quality and diversity to the global wine market.”
Finest and Rarest Wines Featuring Four Stunning Cellars and Library Vintages Direct from Château Léoville Poyferré
On 24 May, the live auction of “Finest and Rarest Wines Featuring Four Stunning Cellars and Library Vintages Direct from Château Léoville Poyferré” will see wine enthusiasts bid over 500 lots that are expected to generate at least HK$27 million (US$3.5 million) in sales.
Exceptional collections curated by respected private collectors worldwide include A Superb Family Collection from North America, showcasing rare magnums of Mouton 1945, Haut-Brion vintages purchased directly from the Château, Le Pin 1982 rare magnums, and Romanee-Conti vintages – 1989, 1990, and 2005.
This sale also boasts an exquisite collection of Mature Bordeaux from a Japanese Collector, featuring Lafite vintages 1945, 1953, 1959, 1961; Latour 1959 and 1961, Mouton 1959, Haut Brion 1961, and Palmer 1961; a selective offering of DRC and Domaine Leroy Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Boudots 2014 and 2015 in original carton.
Not to be missed is the outstanding Bordeaux and Burgundy collection, with highlights such as Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche from 2000s and 2010s, a fine selection of White Burgundy including Joseph Drouhin, Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche, Faiveley, and contemporary Bordeaux in case quantities.
Completing this sale are over 50 lots of Château Léoville Poyferré direct from the Château, spanning 1982 to 2020, in all formats up to Melchoir 18L. Commemorating Cuvelier family’s 100th year anniversary of the St Julien second growth, a 6L 2020 vintage will be on offer. Successful bidder of the lot will also win a visit and lunch at the Château for 4 guests.
More details and registration:
24 May | Live Auction | Finest and Rarest Wines Featuring Four Stunning Cellars and Library Vintages Direct from Château Léoville Poyferré
An Exceptional Private Cellar Part II
Following the highly successful first instalment of this single-owner collection sale at Christie’s Hong Kong in 2021, Christie’s is stepping up to present a much-anticipated sequel titled “An Exceptional Private Cellar Part II” live auction on May 25.
Encompassing over 350 lots, the auction is expected to fetch at least HK$14 million (US$1.8 million).
Showcasing the most coveted wines, including Bordeaux vintages from Latour, Lafite, Margaux, Mouton, La Mission Haut-Brion, and Haut-Brion from the Left Bank; exceptional vintages from Petrus, Le Pin, Lafleur, and Cheval Blanc from the Right Bank.
Burgundy enthusiasts will enjoy a remarkable selection featuring rare vintages from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Henri Jayer, and Armand Rousseau, among others; additional highlights include ultra-rare large formats such as methuselahs of La Tâche 2000 and Montrachet 2003 from DRC, and Cros Parantoux from Henri Jayer dating back to the iconic 1985! From the Rhône, Hermitage La Chapelle, De Fonsalette, and Rayas vintages back to 1976, as well as the exquisite super-Tuscan Masseto from Italy, are also on offer.
Concluding this live sale is an exceptional offering of The Macallan and Karuizawa, featuring ultra-rare and highly esteemed single malts that will delight Scottish and Japanese whisky aficionados. The rarity of the Karuizawa selection is remarkable, as bottles from this “ghost distillery” become increasingly scarce over time. Highlights include Karuizawa “36 Views of Mount Fuji” and Karuizawa “Streams of Time”, along with rare Red Ribbon collection from The Macallan, dating from the 1930s to 1950s.
More details and registration:
25 May | Live Auction | An Exceptional Private Cellar Part II
A Dazzling DRC Collection from a French Private Cellar: Online
This online sale will present an exclusive over 90 lots of Burgundy’s most revered estate, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, from a French Private Cellar spanning 1997 to 2019.
Estimated to fetch at least HK$17 million (US$2.1 million), the collection boasts impeccable provenance as all wines are exclusively acquired through direct allocation.
Time and date:
26 May – 7 June | Online Auction
More details and registration here
A Blue-Chip Burgundy Collection Purchased On Release: Online
Held concurrently online from May 26 till June 7 will be the “Blue Chip Burgundy Collection Purchased On Release: Online” sale. Featuring over 250 lots of Rousseau, Dujac, and Roumier, covering vintages from the 1990s to 2017, alongside a superb selection of highly sought-after White Burgundy by Pierre Yves Colin Morey, the sale is estimated to net at least HK$8.3 million (US$1.1 million)
Notably, over 90% of the wines in the sale were purchased on release.
Time and date:
26 May – 7 June | Online Auction
More details and registration here.
