Top 10 wines at Sotheby’s HK spring sale

Sotheby’s Hong Kong spring sale is a treasure trove of classic vintages of Screaming Eagle and Pétrus as well as the Asia launch of ‘Ornellaia Archivio Storico’.

The auction starts on 2 April at 10am with a single-owner sale: ‘The Private Cellar of An International Collector – Rare Wines & Whiskies,’ consisting of over 250 lots and is estimated at HK$6.2 million-$10 million / US$800,000 – US$1.25 million.

It boasts a spectacular line up of multiple vintages of Pétrus, Le Pin, Chambertin by Armand Rousseau, Masseto, Vega Sicilia Unico and Screaming Eagle Whisky highlights include Karuizawa and Ichiro’s Card Series.

Following directly after will be Sotheby’s second sale, “Finest and Rarest Wines” at 12pm and then again at 11am on 3 April.

Over 800 lots totally between HK$18 – 27 million / US$2.3 – 3.5 million will be on offer and highlights include the Asian launch of ‘Ornellaia Archivio Storico’, a new collection of wines released directly from Ornellaia’s wine library, with bottles and larger formats available from 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006.

Head of wine for Sotheby’s Asia, Adam Bilbey has selected his top 10 lots for bidders to keep an eye on… 

10. Lot 6249: Karuizawa 

A collection of Karuizawa vintage single cask malt whisky aged 30 Years NV, estimated between HK$40,000 – 50,000 / US$5,000 – 6,500 per bottle.

Sale: The Private Cellar of An International Collector – Rare Wines & Whiskies.

9. Lot 6237: Screaming Eagle

Cult Napa fans will snap up this Screaming Eagle 2009, estimated between HK$38,000 – 50,000 / US$4,800 – 6,000 per magnum.

Sale: The Private Cellar of An International Collector – Rare Wines & Whiskies.

8. Lot 6037: Corton Charlemagne

Nine bottles of 2001 J.-F. Coche-Dury, estimated between HK$140,000 – 180,000 / US$18,000 – 22,000 per lot.

Sale: The Private Cellar of An International Collector – Rare Wines & Whiskies.

7. Lot 7304: Penfolds Grange

A rarely seen back vintage collection of Penfolds Grange 1979-2005, estimated between HK$140,000 – 200,000 / US$18,000 – 26,000 per lot of 27 magnums.

Sale: Finest and Rarest Wines – Featuring Ornellaia Archivio Storico.

6. Lot 6135: Château Pétrus 

Six bottles of iconic Château Pétrus 2000, estimated between HK$150,000 – 200,000 / US$19,000 – 26,000 per lot of 6 bottles.

Sale: The Private Cellar of An International Collector – Rare Wines & Whiskies.

5. Lot 7684 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

One for every serious collector: A Metheselah of La Tâche 1983 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti estimated between HK$100,000-150,000 / US$12,900-19,300 per lot.

Sale: Finest and Rarest Wines – Featuring Ornellaia Archivio Storico.

4. Lots 7369, 7370, 7371, 7372: Ornellaia Archivio Storico

Direct from Ornellaia Archivio Storico is this double magnum of Ornellaia 2001 estimated between HK$7,000 – 13,000 / US$900 – 1,700 per lot.

Sale: Finest and Rarest Wines – Featuring Ornellaia Archivio Storico.

3. Lot 7707: Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

A Methuselah of Montrachet 1991 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, estimated between HK$300,000 – 420,000 / US$38,000 – 54,000 per 6L bottle.

Sale: Finest and Rarest Wines – Featuring Ornellaia Archivio Storico.

2. Lot 7066: Château Mouton Rothschild 

A rare vertical of Château Mouton Rothschild 1941-1945, 1947-1949, estimated between HK$150,000 – 220,000 / US$19,000 – 28,000.

Sale: Finest and Rarest Wines – Featuring Ornellaia Archivio Storico.

1. Lots 7665 and 7664: Château Cheval Blanc

The pinnacle of Sotheby’s two sales:

5L bottles of Château Cheval Blanc 1947, est. HK$1,000,000 – 1,600,000 / US$130,000 – 200,000 per 5L bottle.

2.5L bottles of the same vintage, estimated at HK$350,000 – 550,000 / US$45,000 – 70,000 per 2.5L bottle.

Sale: Finest and Rarest Wines – Featuring Ornellaia Archivio Storico.