Christie’s announces HK autumn opener

Auctioneer Christie’s will hold its first wine and spirits sale of the year in Hong Kong next month, with rare Scotch from the 1930s and Dom Pérignon headlining the proceedings.

Taking place on 7 September, the sale will feature 572 lots from several cellars but the headline lots are two bottles of The Macallan Scotch whisky.

Having only begun selling whisky in Hong Kong earlier this year (May), the September sale will feature a bottle of The Macallan 1937 Lalique Golden Age of Travel, which has a pre-sale estimate of HK$300,000 – $450,000 (US$38,000-$55,000).

First bottled in 1972 and rebottled in a Lalique decanter in 2016, it is one of only 50 produced with the decanter itself decorated with the motif of a plane from the 1930s.

Another rare Macallan on offer is a bottle of the 1964 ‘Anniversary Malt 25 year-old’, with a pre-sale estimate of HK$45,000 – $65,000 (US$5,500 – $8,000).

Among the wines, in addition to superlative Bordeaux and Burgundy labels from Armand Rousseau, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Montrose, Pichon Baron and Château Margaux, there are some rare Champagne and New World wines too.

First and foremost comes 12 bottles of 1995 ‘Réserve de L’Abbaye from Dom Pérignon (HK$65,000-$95,000) – a very rare bottling of Dom Pérignon that is sold only in Japan and undergoes 20 years of ageing on its lees prior to release.

The sale also features six bottles of famed grower Champagne producer Jacques Selosse’s Lieux Dits Collection (HK$12,000-$18,000).

From the New World comes ‘Astralis’ Shiraz from Clarendon Hills in Australia and two bottles of cult Napa producer Screaming Eagle’s rare Sauvignon Blanc (HK$70,000-$100,000 for two bottles).