Sotheby’s NY sale roars to $4.8m

Sotheby’s first autumn sale in New York made close to US$5 million last week with white Burgundy, Rhône and Barolo leading the way in the first session.

Taking place on 25 and 26 September, the first part of the sale was comprised of “Part II” of James H Clark’s collection, while the next day saw the Krug “Tasting Experience” and an “Important West Coast Collection” go under the hammer.

The Clark collection realised $1.7m, “reaffirming the position of the collection as one of the greatest selections of Italian and Rhône wines ever offered by Sotheby’s”, while the West Coast collection made a further $1.6m.

Duncan Sterling, vice-president, International Specialist of Sotheby’s Wine, commented: “Bidders from Latin America, Asia, and North America engaged in spirited bidding in the second offering from the Exceptional Cellar of James H. Clark. Jim Clark put together a cellar of such quality and rarity that bidders competed at levels that we have rarely seen, resulting in a combined sale total $4,363,701, from both Parts I and II. Some of the extraordinary results include $42,875 for 12 bottles of 1999 Corton Charlemagne from JF Coche-Dury, $36,750 for 12 bottles 1991 Ermitage, Cuvée Cathelin, from Jean-Louis Chave, $20,825 for 12 bottles 1970 Vega Sicilia Unico, and $17,150 for 12 bottles 1978 Hermitage La Chapelle, Paul Jaboulet Aîné.

“This is one of the greatest collections of wine ever offered by Sotheby’s Wine and we thank Jim Clark for his generosity while we were inspecting the wines on-site and for trusting Sotheby’s to sell this magnificent collection.”

Highlights from the second day included: an imperial of 1961 Latour ($26,950), six magnums of 1990 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche, Cuvée Vieilles Vignes ($23,275) and a cases of 1970 Petrus and 1982 Lafite and Latour.

Sotheby’s next New York sale on 17 October will feature the ex-cellar offering from Château Margaux.