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Auction PR Publicity Announcements News and Information

Hart Davis Hart Bids Farewell to TRU with its Second Largest Auction of All Time

The 100% Sold Sale Brought in $9.6 Million Against Presale Estimates of $6.2-9.2 Million

(Chicago, IL) – Hart Davis Hart Wine Co., the #1 wine auction house in the US, kicked off an event-filled fall season with a record-setting, 100% sold September auction. The sale brought in a total of $9.6 million against presale estimates of $6.2 – $9.2 million, making it the largest wine auction in the world thus far in 2017 and Hart Davis Hart’s second largest sale of all time. The sale attracted over 1200 participants, whose bids drove more than 60% of the 3363 lots to sell above their high estimates. With its September results, HDH continues to dominate the US market, exceeding its nearest competitor by over 60%.

One of the highlights of the September sale was “The Semersky Collection.” This consignment featured first growth Bordeaux, California Cult Wines and rarest spirits, and garnered over $1 million (est. $700,230-1 million). Also of note was “The Paul Chiu Collection” which featured many of Burgundy’s top producers. More than 75% of the lots sold above the high, bringing in $963,409 against presale estimates of $535,850-803,490.

The September sale welcomed participants from five continents. The aggressive bidding seen at the sale was undoubtedly due in part to the depth, breadth and quality of the sale. With 3363 lots, the three-day auction featured treasures from virtually every wine and spirit region. These included 701 lots of Bordeaux, 1163 lots of Burgundy, 544 lots of California Cabernet Sauvignon, and 273 lots of Spirits.

Sale highlights:
• Domaine de la Romanée-Conti: 161 lots sold for $1.2 million (presale estimate $783,500-1.2 million)
• Rousseau: 58 lots sold for $291,018 (presale estimate $173,330-260,540)
• Leroy: 44 lots sold for $216,295 (presale estimate $130,800-194,550)
• First Growth Bordeaux: 267 lots sold for $1.5 million (presale estimate $1-1.5 million)
• Château Pétrus: 34 lots sold for $409,885 (presale estimate $278,700-413,800)
• Van Winkle: 55 lots sold for $130,600 (presale estimate $87,550-130,880)
• The Macallan: 12 lots sold for $125,475 (presale estimate $76,600-114,100)
• Screaming Eagle: 30 lots sold for $207,930 (presale estimate $39,300-58,300)
• Harlan: 73 lots sold for $184,424 (presale estimate $122,480-183,180)

Burgundy garnered strong hammer prices in the September auction, particularly the wines from top producers. A full case of 2005 Chambertin Armand Rousseau was the top lot of the sale at $45,410 (est. $20,000-30,000) while wines from DRC claimed the other 4 of the top 5 spots. Supporting recent trends, Bordeaux prices were very robust with the category as a whole selling above the high estimate. Particularly strong results were seen from mature Bordeaux, including a bottle of 1865 Château Latour which brought in $23,900 (est. $10,000-15,000). This exceedingly rare wine sold for more than any other bottle of Bordeaux offered at auction in the past year.

The September Auction was HDH’s final sale at restaurant TRU following a partnership of over 10 years. Hart Davis Hart is thrilled to announce that all its future auctions will be held at Spiaggia, an outstanding fine dining restaurant located on Chicago’s famed Magnificent Mile. The carefully curated wine list and world-renowned cuisine at Spiaggia makes the restaurant a perfect partner for Hart Davis Hart. A recent renovation of the dining room has made Spiaggia one of the most visually stunning restaurants in the city. Hart Davis Hart’s November 3rd & 4th Celebration of Bordeaux will be the first of many auctions to be held in this space.

As the #1 wine auction house in the US for the past three years, HDH has a proven track record of excellence, and continues to exceed its competition in terms of market share and sell-through rate. Consignments are still being accepted for the Bordeaux sale through the end of this week. If you are looking to make room in your cellar or are looking to capitalize on the current strength of the wine market by consigning a portion of your collection, please contact our expert consignment team at [email protected] or 312.379.8712.

For more information on Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. or to arrange a media visit, please contact Chelsea Ball at 312.667.1161, [email protected] or visit hdhwine.com