2005 La Tache tops Sotheby's Finest Wines at $46,000

12 bottles of the 2005 La Tache saw a 14.8% increase on estimate

Sotheby's September 15 Finest and Rarest Wines auction in New York was highlighted by the sale of a case of the 2005 vintage from La Tache.

The auction saw a surprise appearance from Screaming Eagle

Domaine de la Romanee-Conti's 2005 vintage was superb and La Tache's offering is known as one of the finest for its powerful dark fruit and vanilla flavours. The 12 bottles at auction reflected this, holding one of the highest estimates in the sale at $30,000-40,000.

However, those keen to own the illustrious wine soon pushed bids past the initial valuation, eventually reaching $45,938 - a 14.8% increase. A great purchase for investors, the wine will almost certainly increase in both value and flavour as it reaches its prime drinking years.

Bordeaux's Chateaux Lafite brought the second highest bids, with three cases of the 1982 vintage each selling for $39,813. 1982 is renowned as an excellent year for Bordeauxs and the top bottles are now at their very best.

More sales of the 1982 Bordeaux came from Chateau Petrus, with 10 bottles selling within estimate at $30,625. Contrary to the average results achieved in this sale, Petrus has recently been named the "king of investments" after posting a 14% average annual return.

Making a surprise appearance in the auction's highest-selling lots was the 2007 vintage from the Napa Valley's Screaming Eagle. Screaming Eagle's offerings are some of the rarest of all cult wines, and have been made even rarer by the sale of the vineyard in 2006.

Perhaps the last fine vintage from the winery, the case of 12 at auction sold for $27,563, 10.2% above its $25,000 high estimate.

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