Records fall at Burgundy sale

US auction house Hart Davis Hart’s ‘Celebration of Burgundy’ sale realised US$5.6 million, “shattering” a number of records in the process.

Held in Chicago on 1 April, the sale was 100% sold and easily exceeded its pre-sale high-estimate of $4.9m.

The offering of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti alone raised a total of $2.06m with nine of the top 10 lots coming from the domaine; a case of 1989 Montrachet set a new record when it sold for $77,675.

There was also a substantial consignment of Domaine Leroy, 120 lots of which made an accumulated $724,110; with a dozen bottles of 1990 Chambertin breaking a record when it was sold for $53,775.

One part of the sale, spanning over 150 lots, included consignments from collectors: henry Singleton, Lenoir Josey, Norman Alexander, Herbert Bridges Harris and Steven Verlin; it realsied a further $1.9m.

A statement from HDH explained: “The remarkable provenance and stellar quality of the wines on offer attracted fierce bidding from collectors, causing over 50 lots from the consignment to achieve world record prices.

“Highlights included a case of 1990 Chambertin, Armand Rousseau which sold for $38,240 (est. $20,000-30,000), three magnums of 1990 Bonnes-Mares, Georges Roumier which brought in $28,680 (est. $15,000-22,000), and three bottles of 1992 Corton-Charlemagne, Coche-Dury which garnered $14,340 (est. $6,000-9,000).”

The house’s next auction will be held on 13 May.