Lafite kick starts autumn sales

Christie’s began its Autumn auctions with a successful sale in Hong Kong with top lots of Château Lafite and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

The vertical of 25 cases of Lafite, covering the vintages 1981-2005, became the most expensive lot sold at auction this year when the hammer came down at HK$4.2 million (£322,640).

This good result for Lafite marks a return to form for the estate which has shown signs of slowing down after its high point in October last year.

The next top three lots were cases of DRC Romanée-Conti 1988, which each sold for HK$900,000.

Another lot of note was a case of 1911 Moët which sold for HK$780,000 with a high estimate of HK$500,000.

Charles Curtis MW, head of wine for Christie’s Asia, commented: “We are delighted with the very strong result of our two-day wine sale in Hong Kong.  These results confirm the passion of Asian clients for fine and rare wine, and indicate that interest in wine transcends fluctuations in the world economy.

“We are particularly happy with the HK$4.2 million achieved by our spectacular 25 year vertical of Château Lafite-Rothschild, the most valuable lot of wine sold worldwide this year.

“Results for Romanée-Conti, La Tâche, and Jayer’s Cros Parantoux also point to the burgeoning interest in Burgundy, while the HK$780,000 achieved by the 1911 Moët & Chandon with proceeds donated by Moët to The Nature Conservancy, demonstrates not only the charitable generosity of our clients, but also the growing diversity of the wine cellars in Asia.”

Meanwhile, Sotheby’s opens its autumn season on 14 September in London. The sale will see lots of classed Bordeaux up to 2008 and two cases of DRC Romanée-Conti 1988.

It also promises, “a parcel of Dom Pérignon 1990, tempting red Rhônes and classic vintage Port.”

A further sale on 5 October, also in London, features a vertical of 1989 first growths and a first growth collection featuring the 1945 and 1947 vintages.