Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information
Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. Retains Status as the Leader of the US Live Auction Market for the First Half of 2015

Blockbuster June Auction Brings HDH’s US Auction Sales to $20M

(Chicago, IL) – In a monumental two-day sale this past weekend, Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. confirmed its status as the #1 wine auction house in the US in the first half of 2015 by a wide margin. HDH has the largest share of the US wine auction market with more than $20M in 2015 sales and 7,709 lots offered.

Hart Davis HartHDH’s record-breaking, 99.8%-sold June auction realized $4.9M in sales against pre-sale estimates of $3.4-5.4M. The auction attracted interest from around the globe with bidders hailing from 42 US states and four continents. While some participants traveled to Chicago to attend the sale in person, many more bid via Hart Davis Hart’s new auction website and mobile app. Bidders in Brazil were also able to watch a live video stream of the auction at an event held in São Paulo while utilizing the state-of-the-art online bidding platform to place live bids.

The June sale featured 1,773 lots of incredible diversity and provenance. Nearly 40% of all lots met or exceeded their high-estimates, with many achieving astonishing prices. One of the auction’s crowning gems was a phenomenal offering of the finest blue chip wines with impeccable provenance from one of the world’s most important and discerning collectors (lots 1144-1184). This consignment featured 20 lots of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines that sold for $490,548 against pre-sale estimates of $323,500-$484,500, yielding some of the strongest prices for DRC thus far in 2015. Especially impressive lots included 5 bottles of 1991 Romanée-Conti that sold for $59,750 (est. $35,000-55,000), 9 bottles of 1997 Vosne-Romanée, Cros Parantoux, Réserve Henri Jayer that sold for $38,240 (est. $18,000-28,000), and 9 bottles of 1961 Haut-Brion sold for $17,925 (est. $13,000-19,000).

Another highlight of HDH’s June auction was a selection of wines direct from the cellars of Dom Pérignon, with eleven vintages of the rare Plénitude 3 (P3). Auction attendees enjoyed glasses of 1988 Dom Pérignon Rosé P3 poured from magnums paired with fine caviar as this incredible parcel brought in $234,937 (est. $175,800-262,500). Further highpoints included encyclopedic offerings from two of the most legendary names in fine wine: an astounding 17-vintage library of Screaming Eagle in original wood that sold for $103,965 (est. $72,300-108,600), and an encyclopedia of Unico spanning over 25 vintages that sold for $77,735 (est. $46,400-68,900).

Additional Highlights:
• 36 lots of Margaux sold for $130,793 (est. $92,250-$139,400)
• 18 lots of Mouton sold for $79,647 (est. $55,400-$82,900)
• 20 lots of Cos d’Estournel sold for $30,532 ( est. $22,250-$32,650)
• 14 lots of Léoville-Las-Cases sold for $25,872 (est. $18,150-$26,750)
• 46 lots of DRC sold for $795,691 (est. $556,150-$832,750)
• 11 lots of Henri Jayer sold for $220,119 (est. $139,200-$208,500)
• 27 lots of Rousseau sold for $104,682 (est. $69,000-$103,400)
• 36 lots of Vogüé sold for $63,514 (est. $44,460-$66,800)
• 29 lots of Unico, Bodegas Vega Sicilia sold for $78,034 (est. $47,600-$70,950)
• 12 lots of Tenuta dell’Ornellaia sold for $23,183 (est. $13,850-$20,650)
• 28 lots of Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon sold for $172,080 (est. $121,800-$183,900)
“The US continues to represent the largest percentage of the global wine auction market in 2015,” remarked CEO Paul Hart. “We’re proud to retain our status as America’s top Auction house through the first half of the year—a status we’ve earned thanks to the continued loyalty and respect from the world’s most important collectors.”

As the #1 wine auction house in the US for the past 3 years, HDH has a proven track record of excellence, and continues to exceed its competition in terms of market share, auction size and sell-through rate. Hart Davis Hart’s 2015 auctions will resume in the fall, with a sale on the weekend of September 19th. If you are interested in consigning your wine with HDH, please contact [email protected] or 312.379.8712.

Website: hdhwine.com