Acker Merrall & Condit, America's oldest fine wine merchant, concluded its two-day sales series in Hong Kong at Island Shangri-La and Grand Hyatt with its second largest Hong Kong auction ever, totaling HK$95.5m (US$12.24m) with 98.7% sold by lot.
Collectors, investors and connoisseurs from around the world competed enthusiastically for the greatest, finest and rarest offerings and snapped up over 1,300 lots.
John Kapon, Acker Merrall & Condit's President and Auction Director, said after the sale: "We are exhilarated by the strong results achieved in this sale series, in which we witnessed very spirited bidding across the board.
"We are particularly excited to see the frenzied battle amongst eager bidders for an exceptional array of incredible Domaine de la Romanée Conti vintages, led by the sensational 'assortment of assortments' comprising the last twelve vintages of twelve-bottle DRC Assortments (1990-2001), as well as a superlot of all seven 2005s.
"Significant prices were also realized for numerous rare gems from an incredible Asian collection and 'the continuing saga' of a European gentleman, the star collectors in this sale.
"All these testify to the superb quality, rarity and unrivalled standard of our consignments that continue to draw tremendous interest and the overwhelming responses of collectors with the most discerning taste.
"We anticipate yet another impressive performance in our forthcoming December sale in Hong Kong on the 10th and 11th, after which we expect Hong Kong to top the wine auction market, comfortably outstripping New York and London and making it number one in the world."
The top lot of the sale, offered in the first session at Island Shangri-La, was a stunning Domaine de la Romanée Conti (DRC) assortment comprised of the last twelve vintages of 'twelve-bottle' DRC Assortments ever made.
The collection was sold to a telephone bidder for HK$2,318,000 (US$297,180). Encompassing 144 bottles of vintages from 1990 to 2001, this is an incredible artifact from what will be hailed in the future as a golden era and the last of its kind.
Equally spectacular was a superlot of 42 bottles of 2005 DRC that fetched HK$1,366,400 (US$175,180), with all wines in original wooden six-bottle cases.
This selection of exquisite bottles from Burgundy's most renowned producer stood out with arguably the greatest Burgundy vintage of all-time.
The sale brought to centre stage a featured collection dubbed "The Ongoing Saga of a European Gentleman." A prodigious cellar, it is believed to be one of the greatest collections in the world today. Outstanding lots from this amazing collection included:
12 bottles of 1945 Château Mouton Rothschild, which sold for HK$1,659,200 (US$212,720). This vintage is often praised as one of the immortal legends of the 20th century, and fell only after extensive bidding.
The 1961 Château Latour was likewise hailed as the greatest wine of all-time by Fine Magazine. 12 bottles of the valuable wine sold for HK$683,200 (US$87,590).
Other top lots from the collection included: 42 bottles of Château Mouton Rothschild (ranging from 1900-2000) which sold for HK$488,000 (US$62,570) and 53 bottles of Château Latour (dating from 1901-1996) which achieved HK$463,600 (US$59,440)
Other exceptional highlights from later in the auction included:
A superlot of 33 half-bottles, 187 bottles and 1 double magnum of 2000-2007 of Sine Qua Non, California's most demanded producer HK$585,600 (US$75,080) whilst a case of 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild (owc) HK$634,400 (US$81,340).
Perhaps most startling of all was the strongest result for a single bottle, albeit of a non-standard size: one of only 24 Jeroboams of 1945 Mouton ever made - one of the most historic lots ever offered at auction which sold for a gargantuan HK$927,200 (US$118,880).
- Learn how you can get pleasure and profit from fine and rare wine vintages
- Click here for all the latest Wine, Whisky and Spirits news
Join our readers in over 200 countries around the world - sign up for your free weekly Collectibles Newsletter today
