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Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Sotheby’s New York Sale of Magnificent Bordeaux and Burgundy From an Important Private Cellar Brings $6,134,035

New York, NY – Sotheby’s sale of Magnificent Bordeaux and Burgundy from an Important Private Cellar, featuring the greatest collection of rare Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines ever offered by Sotheby’s, sold for $6,134,035 (est. $3.7/5.5 million*) making it the auction house’s third highest value single-owner wine sale worldwide.

sotheby-wines.jpgThe sale attracted the interest of an extremely diverse group of bidders—with representation from over 15 countries, including the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Brazil, Venezuela, Singapore and Indonesia. Over 40% of the value of the sale was purchased by the top four buyers, who were all from Hong Kong.

The auction’s highlight was the sale of six magnums of Domaine Romanée-Conti 1971 for $169,400 (est. $110/170,000). The entire collection of over 900 bottles of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines from 1947-2004 was 100% sold. ** The DRC portion of the sale raised $3,059,485, well above expectations (est. $1.8/2.8 million).

“This incredible cellar included the finest collection of mature Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines ever offered at Sotheby’s, with 100% of these lots being sold for over the high estimate,”**said Robert Sleigh, Vice President, and head of Sotheby’s New York Wine Department. “The superb quality of this cellar and the range of legendary wines ensured a full evening saleroom with intense telephone bidding from the top collectors from all over the world, particularly from Asia, Europe and South America. The condition of the wines in the collection and transparency of the verifiable provenance compelled all bidders to compete aggressively for these fast disappearing vinous gems.”

The evening also included an array of Burgundy from other highly regarded Domaines and landmark vintages of top Bordeaux, and the top ten was well represented with lots from those highly coveted areas. The highlight among the Bordeaux was the sale of 12 bottles of Château Pétrus 1961 for $102,850 (est. $55/85,000).

Other outstanding prices from this record-breaking sale are listed below:

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti:

12 bottles of Romanée-Conti 1985 – $157,300 (est. $100/150,000)

Four magnums of Romanée-Conti 1985 – $121,000(est. $80/100,000)

Six magnums of Romanée-Conti 1966 – $121,000 (est. 110/170,000)

Six magnums of La Tâche 1985 – $90,750 (est. $45/65,000)

12 bottles of La Tâche 1985 – $72,600 (est. $40/60,000)

Four magnums of La Tâche 1962 – $66,550 (est. $60/90,000)

Two magnums of Romanée-Conti 1966 $66,500 (est.$32.5/50,000)

One Methusaleh of La Tâche 1985 – $60,500 (est. $30/50,000)

Two lots of 12 bottles of DRC Assortment 1990 – $51,425 for both (est. $32.5/50,000)

12 bottles of DRC Assortment 1999 – $42,350 (est. $20/30,000

Three bottles of Romanée-Conti 1999 – $30,250 (est. $15/20,000)

12 bottles of La Tâche 1996 – $27,225 (est. $13/20,000)

Two bottles of Montrachet, DRC 1978 – $11,495 (est. $5/9,000)

Bordeaux and Burgundy:

Five magnums of Château La Mission Haut-Brion 1945 – $78,650 (est. $35/50,000)

12 bottles Lafite Rothschild 2000 – $20,570 (est. $10/15,000)

Six bottles Château Pétrus 2000 – $33,275 (est. $17/25,000)

12 bottles 1964 Château Pétrus – $42,350 (est. $16/22,500)

Four bottles 1961 Latour – $20,570 (est. $6,5/10,000)

Four magnums 1961 Mouton Rothschild – $57,475 (est. $22,5/40,000)

12 bottles 1961 Château Pétrus – $102,850 (est. $55/85,000)

One Jerobaom 1959 Latour – $42,350 (est. $20/30,000)

Six magnums 1959 Mouton Rothschild – $60,500 (est. $37,5/,000)

Seven bottles 1947 Cheval Blanc – $57,475 (est. $35/50,000)

Two lots of one magnum each 1945 Mouton Rothschild – $45,735 (est. $17/25,000)

*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium

** One lot of DRC wine passed in the salesroom, but sold privately immediately following the sale.

Please note that the new buyer’s premium rate of 21% of the hammer price for Aulden Cellars • Sotheby’s wine auctions in New York took effect as of January 1, 2008.

Aulden Cellars • Sotheby’s next Wine sale in New York will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2008.