DP leads ‘unprecedented’ bidding at Wally’s auction

Wally’s November auction saw “unprecedented” bidding, according to its vice president, with an array for Champagnes sourced directly from the houses and from private individuals helping to realise sales of US$1.9m.

The Celebration of La Fête du Champagne auction in New York auction was held on Friday, 6 November, at Restaurant Daniel, and saw 300 registered bidders attend.

The Champagne-focused event featured nearly 1,000 lots, ranging from growers to Grandes Marques, and 19 lots of rarities from Dom Pérignon. The house’s Plenitudes concept (Lots 489 through 507) went beyond pre-sale estimates of $89,700-133,100, with the collection totalling $141,276.

Sales of Dom Pérignon’s Plentitude range included:-

• Lot 490 6 bottles Dom Pérignon P2 Rosé 1995. Estimated $3,600-5,500 SOLD $5,490
• Lot 495 1 bottle Dom Pérignon P3 1976. Estimated $1,600-2,400 SOLD $3,660
• Lot 498 3 bottles Dom Pérignon P3 1969. Estimated $4,800-7,000 SOLD $8,540
• Lot 499 1 magnum (1.5L) Dom Pérignon P3 1966. Estimated $4,800-7,000 SOLD $8,540
• Lot 500 2 bottles Dom Pérignon P3 1964. Estimated $4,400-6,500 SOLD $9,760
• Lot 501 1 bottle Dom Pérignon Oenotheque 1962. Estimated $2,400-3,600 SOLD $3,416
• Lot 504 3 magnums (1.5L) Dom Pérignon P3 Rosé 1990. Estimated $7,500-11,000 SOLD $14,640
• Lot 506 1 magnum (1.5L) Dom Pérignon P3 Rosé 1982. Estimated $3,200-5,000 SOLD $5,124
• Lot 507 2 bottles Dom Pérignon P3 Rosé 1966. Estimated $6,000-9,000 SOLD $11,590

“Not since Wally’s Inaugural Auction in November 2013 has the New York wine market seen an auction escalate to this level of buzz, fanfare and success, due to the incredible array of Champagnes which Wally’s sourced directly from the houses and due to the presence in the salesroom of half a dozen of the top winemakers in Champagne”, said Wally’s Auctions’ vice president Julia Gilbert. “The November Auction saw unprecedented bidding, attendance and enjoyment of the atmosphere only Wally’s can provide.”

Other highlights included a jeroboam of Krug Rosé NV, which was estimated at between $2,000 to $3,000 and sold for $2,928. A magnum of Salon Le Mesnil 1971, estimated at between $4,400 to $6,500, sold for $7,930. Six bottles of Drappier Carte d’Or Millésime 1979, estimated at between $900 to $1,300, sold for $1,830.

Chef Daniel Boulud

The star of the auction’s private collections was “A Passionate Pursuit: Vintage Champagne and Burgundian Treasures from One of America’s Most Important Cellars”, which featured some of the best Champagne vintages of the past 30 years, as well as Burgundy from producers such as Domaine Dujac, Domaine G. Roumier and Domaine Armand Rousseau. The collection totalled $343,735, following a pre-sale estimate of between $239,930 to $360,520.

Select Champagne and Burgundy highlights included:

• Lot 339 2 bottles Alain Robert Mesnil Tradition Blanc de Blancs 1979. Estimated $600-900 SOLD $1,830
• Lot 364 12 bottles Egly Ouriet Brut Millesime 1996. Estimated $1,000-1,500 SOLD $1,952
• Lot 370 10 bottles Jacques Selosse Brut Blanc de Blancs 1990. Estimated $10,000-15,000 SOLD $18,300
• Lot 397 6 bottles Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Rosé 1996. Estimated $1,200-1,800 SOLD $2,196
• Lot 418 2 magnums (1.5L) Chambertin Domaine Armand Rousseau 1986. Estimated $2,800-4,200 SOLD $5,490
• Lot 419 1 magnum (1.5L) Bonnes Mares Vieilles Vignes Domaine G. Roumier 1988. Estimated $1,800-2,800 SOLD $5,490
• Lot 426 1 magnum (1.5L) Clos de la Roche Domaine Dujac 1990. Estimated $3,000-4,600 SOLD $5,612
• Lot 449 1 magnum (1.5L) Bâtard Montrachet Domaine Leflaive 1986. Estimated $1,200-1,800 SOLD $4,392

The sold out event also featured Chef Daniel Boulud sabering of a magnum of Raphael et Vincent Bérêche Crus Selectionnés Les Mesnil Sur Oger Grand Cru 1999 with a one-of-a-kind Christofle saber, and Sally Van Winkle Campbell warming up the salesroom with a bottle of her family’s Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 23 Years Old Bourbon.