Spanish wines star of the show at HK auction

All eyes were on Vega Sicilia at Sotheby’s sale in Hong Kong on 4 April, with six bottles of the 1953 leading the ex-cellar collection.

Although Bordeaux and Burgundy continued to dominate the top lots and drew some of the biggest prices, it was the appearance and performance of Spain’s leading fine wine that was of particular note.

The ex-estate consignment featured Vega Sicilia’s “Unico” from practically every vintage since 1941 as well as assorted vintages of its Unico Rerva Especial and Valbuena, as well as selections of the other wines in the Vega Sicilia portfolio, Alion and Pintia, and vintages of Oremus Tokaji dating back to 1956.

Two lots of Vega Sicilia made it into the top 10, six bottles of the 1953 shot over their high estimate of HK$70,000 and made HK$367,500.

Another lot, a vintage assortment of Unico, did likewise, rising to HK$294,000 (high estimate HK$160,000).

Other top performers included a case of the 1970, which made HK$245,000 and six bottles of the 1942 where the hammer came down at HK$232,750.

The 12 half litre bottles of 1956 Oremus did similarly well, storming to HK$24,500 – with a high estimate set at just HK$8,000.

The top lot overall was a case of 1990 Pétrus, which made HK$735,000 (high estimate HK$300,000), followed by eight bottles of 1985 Henri Jayer Cros Parantoux, which didn’t quite hit the HK$600,000 asking price, settling instead for HK$490,000.

The sale brought to an end Sotheby’s two day sale that had begun with a distinctly Spanish twist, the equally successful auction of the elBulli cellar, which concludes later this month in New York.