2011 auction season bows out in style

A million dollar lot of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, ex-cellar Lafite and superbly cellared Italian and Californian wines goes under the hammer next month.

Sotheby’s, Bonhams, Christie’s and Acker Merrall & Condit all promise exceptional lots in their end of season sales next month.

Of particular interest will be the 816 bottles of Lafite being sold ex-cellar by Christie’s in London on 1-2 December.

Coming from the collection of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild, the wines cover the vintages 1998 to 2008 and have remained unmoved in the cellars of Lafite since being laid down.

Lot prices start at £6,000 and the collection is expected to raise £850,000 in total.

David Elswood, international head of wine at Christie’s, commented: “It is rare to offer such a wide range of exciting vintages in bottle, magnum and double-magnum direct from the reserve cellars of Château Lafite-Rothschild, the property of Sir Evelyn de Rothschild.

“All have been stored in perfect conditions since bottling and represent a wonderful bidding opportunity for lovers of the world’s most famous wine.”

Also in London on 1 December, Bonhams is to auction a private collection from an American donor.

Italian and Californian wine feature prominently in the sale with multiple vintages of Ridge, Harlan, Shafer and Screaming Eagle on offer and vintages of Barolo and Barbaresco dating back to the 1960s from Aldo and Giacomo Conterno, Sandrone, La Spinetta and Voerzio.

Top red and white Burgundy from Rousseau, DRC, Domaine des Comtes Lafon, de Voguë and Dujac are also included.

Acker Merrall is to sell a 55-bottle lot of DRC Romanée-Conti at its last sale in Hong Kong on 10 December, spanning the vintages 1952 to 2007 (no 1968 was made).

Valued at US$600,000 to $800,000, CEO Steve Kapon said: “If there ever were to be a million dollar lot, it could certainly be this one.”

With DRC’s current form and growing success in Asia, he could be right.

Finally, Sotheby’s closes its season in London with a two session sale on 7 December. The first session will be dominated by Bordeaux with “super seconds” in particular being highlighted.

The second session features DRC collections of 1990 and 1999 and a vertical of Romanée-Saint-Vivant from 1984 to 1990.

Also featuring is a collection of JJ Prüm wines from a member of the family with lots of Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese 1949 and 1971.