Pétrus and Rhône top $4.4m NY sale

Two magnums of 1961 Pétrus topped Sotheby’s New York sale last weekend, while the ex-cellar consignment of Paul Jaboulet was 100% sold.

The auction, preceded by the sale of the world’s largest white truffle, realised over US$4.4 million and saw many top lots far exceed their estimates.

The two magnums of Pétrus for example were valued at $30,000-$40,000 yet achieved $79,625 – going to an Asian private client as did a 34 magnum vertical of Hermitage La Chapelle from Paul Jaboulet, which realised $61,250.

Latin American buyers scooped up 11 bottles of 1985 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche for and eight bottles of 1985 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Cuvée Vieilles Vignes for $52,063 apiece (the estimate for the Domaine Ponsot was $16,000-$22,500).

An anonymous buyer dropped $42,875 on four bottles of 1997 Sine Qua Non Crossed (valued at $800-$1,100), while a US buyer bid $27,563 for a magnum of Comte Georges de Vogüé 1949 Musigny.

Lafite 1982 also made a welcome return to an auction top 10 list, contributing several lots which went to both US and Asian buyers, while four magnums of Armand Rousseau’s 1990 Chambertin went to a US buyer for over $30,000 (high estimate $18,000).