Rare Leroy Musigny to feature at Madison Auction summer sale

Hong Kong-based Madison Auction will stage its summer auction online on 15 May in live, with one of the highlights being a bottle of 2014 Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru.

The coming auction features 194 lots, including 112 from Burgundy, 29 from Bordeaux, 20 fine whiskies from Scotland, Japan and other international rarities. The collection is valued at an estimated HK$14-21 million.

The star of the show is a bottle of 2014 Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru, which is highly-regarded and limited (only 896 bottles available worldwide). As record showed, the bottle jumped 50% in value twice since 2014. It now ranks among the world’s most expensive wines, often ahead of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC).

“Domaine Leroy has quickly cultivated a strong reputation for wines of great finesse ideal for cellaring, and Leroy produces an average of just 600 cases annually,” says Sam Lin, CEO of Madison Auction.

“That combination of factors makes Domaine Leroy a wise investment, and a treat for wine lovers.” Bidding is expected to start at only HK$220,000, while the market price is almost HK$400,000.

Other Burgundies available on the block will be DRC vintages spanning the 1960s to 2010s, including its ultra-exclusive 1999 assortment, expected to begin bidding at HK$500,000, and three lots of Domaine d’Auvenay’s 2004 Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, of which only 907 bottles were ever produced.

Among the featured lots from Bordeaux is a winery-direct, limited Château Léoville-Las Cases Collection Miroir – Millésimes Secrets Case #8. The storied St. Julien winery is noted for its embrace of innovation to produce its classic Bordeaux. The winning bidder will be invited to tour the vineyard and its new cellar when completed, capped by lunch or dinner with owner Jean-Hubert Delon.

Also going under the hammer at the wine and whisky auction is a range of vintages by fast-rising Domaine Dugat-Py, three bottles of 1961 Château Latour, widely considered one of the best wines ever, rated 100 by Robert Parker; a rare 2010 Petrus Imperial, as well as wines from Italy, Germany, Spain and the United States.

For the fine whiskies in the collection, there are 13 lots of Macallan Fine and Rare dating from 1957, aged between 15 and 53 years, and a set from premier Japanese distillery Hibiki’s Kacho Fugetsu aged 17 to 30 years old.

“Despite global uncertainties, fine wine and whisky along with jewellery, art and antiques, have proven to be among the most attractive investments for collectors still,” says Lin. “The success of Hong Kong Sotheby’s spring wine auction, headlined by selections from local entrepreneur Joseph Lau’s renowned private cellar and a slate of 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, turned over HK$52.6 million, and proves there is sustained interest in these kinds of investments, despite ongoing and unprecedented challenges.”

For the upcoming auction, bidders can choose to join the event either by live streaming or online formats, and participate in Mandarin, Cantonese or English.

“At Madison we’re proud to distinguish ourselves from other houses by delivering a better, more accessible auction experience with innovative digital solutions for our clientele,” says Lin. “Our unique approach to auctions keeps transactions straightforward and doesn’t conceal fees, which our clients appreciate.”

The Madison Auction Summer Auction is now open for written bids via its online platform. The live streaming sale kicks off on 15 May at 11am.