Sotheby’s auction is second biggest ever

Sotheby’s London sale last week was the second biggest in the house’s history.

The sale on 21 March was 97% sold by lot and 99% by value and the total raised was £2.76 million.

Burgundy led the way in the sales, particularly Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Henri Jayer, and fierce telephone and online bidding from buyers in 21 countries drove prices far above their estimates.

The top lot, three bottles of Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée, Cros Parantoux 1990, eventually sold to an Asian buyer for £42,300 – the high estimate was £14,000.

Another Asian buyer scooped a horizontal of DRC comprised of seven magnums of the 2003 vintage for £30,550.

Another Asian buyer came away with five bottles of Jayer’s Cros Parantoux 1988 for £25,850 – high estimate £11,000 – while members of the UK trade bought Le Pin 1990, DRC Richebourg 1978 and 1985 Chambertin from Armand Rousseau.

Serena Sutcliffe MW, Sotheby’s worldwide head of wine, said: “We are particularly pleased that these great wine collections attracted buyers from around the world, including new clients who loved the quality and diversity of these stunning cellars.

“There was excitement in the room as bids ricocheted between the telephones and the internet, both facing a very high proportion of bids received before the sale. We shall continue to source fabulous collections of wine of true provenance that will give pleasure to all who enjoy great bottles.”

The house also picked out other successes from the auction, including a Krug Collection 1928 which achieved £14,688 and a magnum of Krug 1937, which hit £12,338.

A 12-bottle vertical of Vega Sicilia “Unico” spanning 1941 to 1981 also realised £4,935.

Sotheby’s next sale in New York on 28 April includes Cheval Blanc and Yquem collections direct from the houses’ cellars.

The collections span the vintages 1892 to 2009 and includes over 3,000 bottles grouped into 400 lots.