New York, NY – Aulden Cellars • Sotheby’s May 17th sale of Finest and Rarest Wines, Including The Cellar of William S. Morris III and Wines Direct from Château Angelus and the Sir Peter and Lady Michael Foundation, totaled $2,911,260, well within expectations (est. $2/3 million.*)
The Cellar of William S. Morris III achieved a total of $1,085,310 (est. $765,850/1,099,000) and produced the top lot of the sale, six magnums of Château Lafite 1982 which brought $42,350 (est. $22.5/32,500), followed by four more of the top ten lots: six magnums of Château Pétrus 1970 which went for $39,325 (est. $20/30,000); 12 bottles of Château Lafite 1982 which achieved $36,300 (est. $20/30,000); six magnums of Château Lafite 1982 which sold for $30,250 (est. $22.5/32,500) and three double magnums (three liters) of Château Lafite 1982 which also sold for $30,250 (est. $20/30,000).
Wines Direct from the Sir Peter and Lady Michael Foundation achieved $182,286, well over its high estimate (est. $120/168,000). Highlights from this offering included the following, with prices achieved and estimates:
Peter Michael Chardonnay, Mon Plaisir Vertical 1987-2005 – $3,025 (est. $1.5/2,250)
Six bottles of Peter Michael Chardonnay, Point Rouge 2005 – $3,630 (est. $1.2/1,600)
Six bottles of Peter Michael Chardonnay, Point Rouge 2002 – $3,630 (est. $1.2/1.600)
12 bottles of Peter Michael Les Pavots 2005 – $3,932 (est. $2/3,000)
6 magnums of Peter Michael Les Pavots 1996 – $4,235 (est. $2.5/3,500)
The purpose of the Sir Peter and Lady Michael Foundation is to fund medical research to help improve the lives of those with prostate cancer and ultimately to eradicate the disease. These proceeds will be used by the Foundation to help underwrite prostate cancer research at leading institutions such as Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center; Institute for Quantitative Biosciences at the University of California San Francisco and University College Hospital London.
Wines Direct from Château Angelus exceeded expectations, bringing $184,827 (est. $117/161,000). Sotheby’s was delighted that Hubert de Boüard de Laforest and his wife Corinne, the owners of Château Angelus, were able to be in New York and attend the sale. Highlights of this offering included the following:
Six magnums Angelus 2005 – $5,445 (est. $2.75/3,750)
Two double magnums Angelus 1998 – $4,235 (est. $1.2/1,600)
One Jeroboam Angelus 1998 – $4,537 (est. $1.1/1,500)
Two double magnums Angelus 2000 – $5,445 (est. $2/3,000)
One double magnum Angelus 1989 – $3,025 (est. $1.4/2,250)
“We were delighted to continue our run of special sales featuring wines that come direct from the producing château or winery,” said Serena Sutcliffe, Head of Sotheby’s International Wine Department. “The Peter Michael wines, which were offered to benefit the Sir Peter and Lady Michael Foundation, were sold at close to the top estimate and showed the full diversity of these remarkable white and red wines. Château Angelus, one of Bordeaux’s greatest growths, offered stunning vintages and grand formats which were snapped up by St. Emilion aficionados.”
The remaining top ten lots were dominated by Châteaux Pétrus and Lafite, with 12 bottles of Château Pétrus 1989 going for $39,325, another 12 bottles of the same vintage selling for $33,275, and 12 bottles of the 1990 vintage also selling for $33,275 (each lot carried an estimate of $30/45,000). Two lots consisting of 12 bottles Château Lafite 1982 also achieved top prices, going for $33,275 and $30,250, respectively (both with estimates of $20/30,000).
*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium.
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.
