Haut-Brion sale a ‘resounding success’

Sotheby’s London sale this week saw strong bidding for Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut-Brion but Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s Montrachet took the top honours.

The sale realised £685,825, comfortably over the pre-sale estimate, and was 98% sold by lot and value.

As at Acker Merrall & Condit’s recent New York auction, there was a lot of attention on lots of 1989 Haut-Brion.

One case was sold to an Asian buyer for £10,810 (£11,000 high estimate) and another case to the UK trade for £9,988.

1989 La Mission also attracted a lot of interest, with UK buyers both private and trade snapping up cases for over £7,000 apiece.

Real success, however went to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s 1993 Montrachet, two cases of which were bought by Asian bidders, the first six bottles for £21,150 and another six for £18,800.

Stephen Mould, head of Sotheby’s European Wine Department, said that Wednesday’s sale was a “resounding success, totalling £685,825 against a high estimate of £645,660.

“There was strong competition for Châteaux Haut-Brion and La Mission Haut Brion from an aristocratic cellar, as well as for mature vintages of first growths and other classed growth Bordeaux, and Burgundy from top growers such as DRC, Dugat-Puy, Leflaive and Rousseau.

“We look forward to our next sales in Hong Kong – The  El Bulli Cellar and The Classic Cellar from a Great American Collector XI on 3 April and Finest and Rarest Wines featuring wines direct from Vega Sicilia on 4 April.”