Sotheby’s single owner sale makes $2.5m

Sotheby’s New York sale featuring the collection of entrepreneur James Clark made over US$2.5 million last weekend with Rhône and Italian wines achieving “groundbreaking” new prices.

The river Rhône from the top of the Hermitage hill

Six bottles of Paul Jaboulet Aîné’s 1961 Hermitage la Chapelle constituted the biggest selling lot, the hammer coming down at $49,000, while a magnum of the same made $30,625 and a further four bottles $24,500.

Other top Rhône wines included: 11 bottles of 1978 La Mouline ($24,500), a Methuselah of Jean-Louis Chave’s 1998 Ermitage, Cuvée Cathelin ($24,500) and another full case of the 1991 vintage of the latter made $33,688.

Leading Burgundian estate, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, reared its head in the shape of its white wine, Montrachet, with bottles and large formats of its 1985, 1986, 1990 and 1995 vintages all making the top 10 list.

White Burgundy had a rare day in the spotlight overall, with a new record also being set for Coche-Dury – $30,625 for 12 bottles of the 2000 Corton Charlemagne.

A case of 1996 Meursault Les Perrières went for the same and three magnums of the 1988 Corton realised $22,050.

Jamie Ritchie, Sotheby’s Wine CEO & president, Americas & Asia, commented: “The James Clark collection exemplified the qualities we look for in great wine cellars – the best vintages from the greatest producers in excellent condition.

“With a sale total of $2.6 million, 76% of sold lots fetching prices at or above the high estimates, and a series of groundbreaking prices for Italian and Rhône wines, we set a new benchmark for these wines at auction.”