Bonhams to kick start autumn season with ‘bumper sale’
Bonhams has planned a ‘bumper sale’ of almost 850 lots for its first fine wine auction of the season.
The sale will take place from 26-27 September, and will feature a fine array of Burgundy and Bordeaux. Highlights from the Burgundy-dominated first day will include magnums of 2002 Echezeaux from Domaine Rene Engel and a Methuselah of 2004 Clos Vougeot from the same domaine, as well as Penfolds Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon 2004, 2001 Pingus and 2003 Cuvee da Capo from Domaine du Pegau.
The second day, which will be more focused on Bordeaux, will include gems such as 2005 Petrus , 2005 Chateau Lafite and 2009 Cheval Blanc.
Bonhams global director of fine wine, Richard Harvey MW, said: “The extensive private collection of impeccable provenance is particularly comprehensive with examples of wines from all over the world and I expect it to have wide appeal.”
Zachys first autumn sale realises HK$58m
Auctioneer Zachys kicked off its autumn season with a Hong Kong sale that netted HK$58 million.
The single-owner collection, which went under the hammer on 6th September, featured rare Burgundy and blue chip and First Growth Bordeaux, and attracted more than 100 in-room bidders despite recent political unrest in the city.
Big ticket lots included a Methuselah of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti’s 1996 La Tache, which went for HK$494,000, and a further three bottles of Romanee-Conti 1990 which went for the same.
Among the Bordeaux, 12 bottles of 2004 Chateau Le Pin made HK$370,500, while six magnums of 2005 Petrus sold for HK$395,200.
Terrence Tang, Zachys head of Asia commented: “We have a busy season ahead so place your bids for The Windy City Collection and Fine & Rare Wines featuring The Silicon Valley Cellar on 19th and 20th September in New York.”
September’s rush of releases indicates merchant faith in La Place
A slew of new releases this month has cemented September as a time for fine wine lovers to keep an eye on Bordeaux’s La Place.
Wines released within the last two weeks include the 2016 vintages of Opus One, Verite, Masseto, and Solaia, the 2017 vintages of Almaviva, Sena and Beaucastel’s Hommage a Jacques Perrin, and the highly-anticipated Chateau Latour 2011, which has been released at £5,100 a case.
The trend for Bordeaux merchants to offer wines made beyond its borders in the month of September has become increasingly established in recent years. As Chris Mercer notes on Decanter.com, it comes amid a broadening of the fine wine market, together with smaller En Primeur campaigns in general.
“The trend also shows how top producers have placed confidence in the sales networks of Bordeaux negociants,” he writes.
Champagne Armand de Brignac releases rarest cuvee to UK market
Champagne Armand de Brignac has announced the UK arrival of its Blanc de Noirs Assemblage Three (A3) – the third assemblage of its ultra-prestige cuvee.
Just 3,535 bottles have been produced, and were disgorged on 9th April after resting on lees for six years. The cuvee is made entirely from Pinot Noir grapes sourced from a number of prestigious village in the Montagne de Reims.
Every bottle of Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs A3 is inscribed with its unique number in addition to its disgorgement date, showcasing its the rarity and collectability. As is the style of all Armand de Brignac cuvees, each dark metalised bottle of Blanc de Noirs A3 is finished by hand with the application of a French pewter label and a final hand polishing before being placed in a handcrafted wooden lacquered gift box.
A limited number of bottles will be available exclusively at Harrods from 16th September, for £1,095 each.
Acker launches weekly web auctions
US auction house Acker has launched weekly online sales to accommodate what it says is “growing demand” and interest in fine and rare wine.
Connoisseurs and investors will now have the opportunity to bid on selections of wine worth as much as US$65,000 every week, with each sale opening at 12am Eastern Time (US) on Mondays and closing on Sunday evenings at 8pm ET.
The first sale, which took place on 2nd September, featured bottles of 1971 and 1982 Chateau Petrus, magnums of 2003 Chateau Margaux, 2004 Corton Charlemagne by Coche Dury, 2006 Montrachet from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti and 1999 Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze.
Acker chairman John Kapon said: “Weekly web sales will allow Acker to showcase more individual collections. There are many noteworthy collections that aren’t seven figures, and this will allow more of them the spotlight they deserve. This platform is great for the buyer as well as the seller. More auctions mean a constant flow of fresh lots keeping things interesting.”
