HDH hails ‘blockbuster’ sale

US auction house Hart Davis Hart enjoyed a “blockbuster” sale last week with prices at their highest level since September 2014.

Held in Chicago on 19-20 February, the sale realised a total of US$6.3 million, above pre-auction high-estimates of US$4.1-6.2m.

There was high bidding on Burgundy and also old and rare Madeira, 96 lots of which realised US$47,438 in total, 88 of those lots selling for well above their high-estimates.

Particular highlights included three bottles of 1880 Blandy’s Malmsey Madeira (US$6,500) and a bottle of 1875 d’Oliveira Malvazia Reserva (US$2,400).

Burgundy, as one might expect, led the sale in terms of value, with wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, de Vogüé, Leroy, Dujac, Jayer and Rousseau making a strong showing.

Burgundian wines brought in US$2.6m in all over the course of the two-day sale, highlights including three bottles of Henri Jayer 1988 Echézeaux (US$13,145) and three magnums of Armand Rousseau 2012 Chambertin Clos de Beze (US$8,962).

It was the strongest result for Burgundy at one of HDH’s sales since February 2015.

There were similarly “robust” results for the Bordeaux on offer, first growths, Super Seconds and the top Right Bank labels bringing in a further US$2.2m, helped along by demand for wines from the 1982, 1989 and 2005 vintages.

Finally, there was also continued enthusiasm for wines from the Rhône, Spain, Italy and California with 1990 Brunello di Montalcino from Soldera, 1998 Cuvée Cathelin from JL Chave and 34 lots of various Opus One vintages being of particular note.