Asian buyers snap up Pétrus in NY

Pétrus was the target of buyers at last weekend’s auction held by Christie’s in New York, with all of the top lots also going to Asian bidders.

Pétrus and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti have recently being duelling each other for the top spots at auctions around the world.

The latter, Burgundian, estate has generally had the best of the encounters so far but Pétrus won out this time with bidders snapping up a case of the 2000 for US$49,000 and an imperial (six-litre) bottle of the 1982 which realised $36,750 – just over the high estimate of $35,000.

Nonetheless, an assortment of a dozen bottles of 1999 DRC did take third place, though it failed to breach its high estimate of $38,000, making just $34,300.

Per Holmberg, head of wine at Christie’s, North America, commented: “Exceptional results were achieved for Christie’s first wine sale of the fall season, with Chateau Pétrus 2000 (12 bottles) and an impériale of 1982 Chateau Pétrus as top performers. The continued strong demand for Domaine de la Romanée-Conti was underscored with an Assortment case of 1999 realizing $34,300.

“We also saw great results from the California cult wines of Sine Qua Non with active bidding and many of the lots selling well above their high estimate.”

Overall the sale was 94% sold by lot and 93% by value, realising $2.7 million.