Sotheby’s two day sale makes £1.3m

UK auction house Sotheby’s held a two day sale in London last week that achieved nearly £1.3 million as sales for the first half of the year rose 33% on the same period in 2013.

Pétrus and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti took joint first place with cases of their 1990 vintages each realising £28,200.

Stephen Mould, European head of Sotheby’s Wine Department, said: “Mature, blue-chip Bordeaux and DRC were in great demand, and prices for Leroy and d’Auvenay soared above their high estimates.

“The sale demonstrated that collectors are willing to pay top prices for top-flight wines, but, equally, wine lovers who want to drink at accessible prices were taking advantage of the great opportunities on offer for younger vintages and lesser-known producers.

“We are delighted to be up 33% on last year’s results for our January to July London wine season, with a combined total of £7.5 million. We now look forward to some exciting sales this autumn in all three selling centres – London, Hong Kong and New York.”

The buyers of the top lots were split largely between UK trade and private buyers and Asian buyers.

Alongside further vintages of Pétrus (2000, 2003, 1996 and 2005) and DRC (2004), buyers also snapped up a case of 1982 Latour (£13,513), eight magnums of 2000 Carré d’As (a collection of Pétrus, Haut-Brion, Latour and Margaux in a wooden presentation case) and Le Pin 2000 (£11,750).