Auction brings $4.4 million with “A Private Library of Extraordinary Bordeaux” exceeding the high estimate with heavy international bidding
(Chicago, IL) – Hart Davis Hart, the leading wine auction house in America, opened 2013 with a highly-charged auction of finest and rarest wines, selling 99.9% of lots offered and posting $4.4 million in sales against a pre-auction estimate of $2.8m-$4.3m.
Attendees filled the auction room in downtown Chicago to capacity, competing with absentee bidders from 35 states, and the District of Columbia, as well as Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Puerto Rico, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
The crowd fell silent as a lot of 1990 Vosne-Romanée, Cros Parantoux from Henri Jayer came up for bid. Auction goers watched anxiously as bidders from Hong Kong, Europe and the United States battled for this rare case of wine estimated at $70,000-110,000. The tense bidding ended when a phone bidder won the case for $113,525, with the consignor making a 10,000% return on his investment.
An amazing collection of 1995 Bordeaux saw extremely heavy bidding. Purchased upon release by the consignor, 14 lots of Latour, 20 lots of Margaux and 28 lots of Mouton Rothschild sold in excess of the high estimate.
Wines from Burgundy continued to bring strong prices. In addition to the case of 1990 Cros Parantoux from Jayer that sold for $113,525, magnums of Burgundy were in high demand. Three magnums of 1991 Chambertin, Clos de Bèze from Armand Rousseau (est. $8000-12,000) brought $16,730 while three magnums of 1999 Chambertin, Armand Rousseau (est. $3500-5500) sold for $10,755. A rare jeroboam of 1988 La Tâche from Domaine de la Romanée Conti (est. $5000-7500) commanded $7768. Finally, a truly special collection of Romanée Conti, composed of single bottles from 18 different vintages spanning the years 1966 through 2005 brought $166,105, an average of $9228 per bottle.
“This was an exciting start to 2013. Demand for carefully collected wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy and California is booming,” commented CEO Paul Hart.
Hart Davis Hart’s next auction will be devoted entirely to the wines of Burgundy and will be held on March 23rd. This multi-million dollar sale will exclusively feature top producers from this esteemed region. The auction will be preceded by a dinner at Sepia on Friday, March 22nd, featuring the cuisine of guest chef Johan Bjorklund from Bistro de L’Hotel in Beaune, and a presentation of the wines of Domaine Hudelot Noëllat by winemaker Charles Van Canneyt.
Top Lots by Price (inclusive of 19.5% buyer’s premium):
Lot 610: 1990 Vosne-Romanée, Cros Parantoux, Henri Jayer (12 bs) (est. $70,000-110,000) $113,525
Lot 431: 1990 DRC Assortment (12 bs) (est. $35,000-55,000) $41,825
Lot 865: 1990 DRC Assortment (12 bs) (est. $35,000-55,000) $38,240
Lot 197: 1982 Château Pétrus (12 bs) (est. $30,000-45,000) $38,240
Lot 58: 1999 La Tâche, DRC (12 bs) (est. $26,000-38,000) $38,240
Lot 56: 1999 DRC Assortment (12 bs) (est. $24,000-35,000) $33,460
Lot 23: 2008 Château Pétrus (12 bs) (est. $22,000-32,000) $28,680
Lot 936: 1993 DRC Assortment (12 bs) (est. $20,000-30,000) $23,900
Lot 36: 2009 Château Lafleur (12 bs) (est. $16,000-24,000) $20,315
Lot 54: 1996 La Tâche, DRC (12 bs) (est. $16,000-24,000) $23,900
Lot 138: 2009 Montrachet, DRC (6 bs) (est. $16,000-24,000) $20,315
Sale Stats
Percent sold by lot: 99.9%
Total Aggregate: $4,414,963
Low Pre-Sale Estimate: $2,881,940
High Pre-Sale Estimate: $4,316,580
Auction Calendar
March 23, 2013
May 18, 2013
June 29, 2013
About Hart Davis Hart Wine Co.
Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. is both a dynamic retailer and an internationally prominent wine auction house, occupying a unique position in the rare wine market. We offer collectors and restaurateurs a broad range of options for buying and selling wines, providing unrivaled expertise and personalized service.
Founded in October 2004, Hart Davis Hart represents the alliance of three highly-respected industry leaders: John Hart, Michael Davis, and Paul Hart, with a combined experience of nearly 90 years in the rare wine business. John Hart, a renowned expert, has been a leader in the rare wine retail business for over three decades. With extensive careers at Christie’s, Davis & Company, and Sotheby’s, Michael Davis and Paul Hart are the most experienced wine auctioneers in America.
Hart Davis Hart has emerged as one of the most innovative and trusted sources for rare wines in America, with over 150 years of combined experience in the specialized field of fine and rare wines. No other firm can approach their level of expertise, network of relationships, or dedication to service.
Hart Davis Hart core services:
• Traditional Live Auctions
• Private Retail Services
• Online Sales
• Consultation
For more information on Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. visit hdhwine.com
