‘Feverish’ bidding for ’45 La Mission in NYC

Two double magnums of 1945 La Mission Haut-Brion were one of the more sought-after lots at Sotheby’s recent fine wine sale in New York.

The two bottles realised US$42,875 in total, nearly twice its high estimate. Overall the sale made US$3.2 million, just over its own high estimate and included an array of fine wines from France, Italy and the US, including an ex-cellar consignment from Biondi-Santi.

The sale’s leading lot was six magnums of 1971 La Tâche from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, which realised US$91,875, while other top lots included 1982 Lafite, a 21 magnum ‘vertical’ of Harlan Estate (US$23,275), 10 bottles of 1971 ‘Eisele’ from Ridge (US$22,050) and three magnums of 1964 Pétrus.

The consignment of Biondi-Santi spanning 1955-1971 made $290,000 in all with every lot exceeding its high estimate.

Highlights included four 12-bottles of the 1955 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (which made $13,475 apiece), three 12-bottle vertical covering 1955-1971 Brunello Riserva ($7,962 apiece) and a dozen bottles of 1968 Riserva ($6,737).

Connor Kriegel, head of Auction Sales, commented: “Following our historic 2016, we are thrilled to begin 2017 with an extremely successful auction with nearly 60% of the lots selling above the pre-sale high estimate.

“Hundreds of bidders, including a packed saleroom, fervently bid for wines rarely available at auction including magnums of both 1971 La Tâche and 1945 La Mission Haut-Brion, five decades of Biondi Santi and the exclusive release of the 2014 Ornellaia Bianco.”