DRC breaks world auction record

Two bottles of Burgundy’s most sought-after label, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s Romanée-Conti, have become the most expensive wines ever sold at auction.

The two bottles of the 1945 vintage were sold by Sotheby’s in New York last week, one for US$496,000 (£377,000) and the other for $558,000 (£424,000).

The wines were being offered as part of the collection from the cellar of Robert Drouhin. The consignment of old and rare DRC was 100% sold and realised US$7.3 million in total – five times its pre-sale high estimate.

Meanwhile, at the same sale, a bottle of 1926 The Macallan with a label with Sir Peter Blake, made an equally staggering US$843,200.

Although this did not quite break the record set by Bonhams for the same whisky several times this year, it is still the most expensive single bottle of wine or spirits of any format that Sotheby’s has ever sold.

Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine, commented: “Today marks an extraordinary moment not only in the history of Sotheby’s, but also in the auction market for wine and spirits worldwide. The new world record established in today’s sale is further proof that the demand for wine and spirits of exceptional quality is at an all-time high, and that global collectors are willing to go the extra mile to acquire the rarest bottles of any kind.

“The world auction record for a single bottle of wine of any size, established by Sotheby’s New York in 2007, has stood for more than 10 years, and it was a privilege to top our previous success twice in one sale. It has been an honour to work alongside both The Macallan, as well as the Drouhin family, and we look forward to continuing this momentum as we head into our November and December auctions.”