Sotheby’s announces three ‘exceptional’ wine sales in HK

Auctioneer Sotheby’s has announced three fine wine sales that will take place in Hong Kong next month, featuring over 1,000 lots worth HK$58 million (US$7.5m).

The sale includes consignments from two private collections which will be offered on 3 October and a more general ‘Finest & Rarest’ sale on 4 October.

The first private collection, from an anonymous consignor, covers 174 lots estimated in excess of HK$12m and includes Burgundian great names such as Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Domaine Leroy, Jayer, de Vogüé, Rousseau, Grivot and Clos de Tart as well as Bordeaux from Château Haut-Brion and Petrus.

The second private collection is from entrepreneur and art collector Joseph Lau. Spanning 110 lots it is valued at HK$25.7m (US$3.3m) and is particularly notable for its “astounding” roll call of DRC, as well as other blue chip wines.

Highlights include a Methuselah of 1996 Romanée-Conti from DRC, 1982 Château Lafite, magnums of 1961 and 1982 Petrus and magnums 1985 and 1999 Vosne-Romanée, Cros Parantoux and Richebourg from Henri Jayer.

The general sale the following day isn’t short of highlights either and its 700 lots have a pre-sale estimate of HK$20m (US$2.5m).

There are bottles and cases of great fine wines such as 2000 Mouton Rothschild, 1989 Haut-Brion, 1961 Latour and a mini vertical of Harlan Estate from 1996-2008.

There are also some spirits being offered in this part of the sale, led by The Macallan 65 year-Old in Lalique, 6 Pillars, Sixth Edition; Karuizawa’s Cask #8852 ‘Streams of Time’ 1965 and The Savoy 125th Anniversary – Macallan Aged 48 Years as well as mature bottlings of Kweichow Moutai from 1980-1986.

Adam Bilbey, Head of Sotheby’s Wine, Asia, said: “We are proud to open the 2020 Autumn Sale series in Hong Kong with two outstanding single-owner collections: The Five-Star Cellar, Iconic Wines of Impeccable Provenance offers the finest names from Bordeaux and Burgundy purchased on original release, while Wines from the Cellar of Joseph Lau features the spectacular wine collection by one of the world’s most legendary collectors. This season’s Finest & Rarest Wines and Spirits brings a plethora of much sought-after Scotch and Japanese whiskies, as well as Kweichow Moutai, with a diverse offering catering to all tastes and budgets.”