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

Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. to Offer The Aubrey K. McClendon Collection in a Single-Owner Auction Expected to Realize over $7.4M

Important Private Cellar Featuring Large Format Bottlings of Le Pin, Pétrus, Mouton Rothschild, and More

Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. is honored to offer the unparalleled Aubrey K. McClendon Collection in a single-owner auction on September 17th. Bidding will open for this exceptional sale on Thursday, August 25th at 8:00am CT. This remarkable sale is estimated to garner between $5.1-7.6 million, featuring over 4,600 bottles of wine divided into 1,058 lots.

Hart Davis HartMr. McClendon was a constant presence in the wine auction world; there was a time when it was no exaggeration to say that he was the most important wine buyer in America. He took great pleasure in sharing his wines with family and friends, a fact reflected in the vast array of large format bottles included in his collection ranging from magnums to 18 liter Melchiors. His philosophy was, the larger the bottle the better for sharing. He took great care in the procurement and storage of his collection. A majority of the wines were purchased on release and all have been stored in pristine, custom-built cellars.

Mr. McClendon collected the greatest Bordeaux wines in the most famous vintages and in meaningful quantities. Spanning 24 vintages, the depth and quality of Mr. McClendon’s Bordeaux collection is truly extraordinary. Featuring an estimated $1-1.6M of wines from the revered 2000 vintage alone, the focus is clearly on the best of the best. Bidders will find 80 lots from Pétrus (est. $1.2-1.8M), 46 lots from Le Pin (est. $426,100-632,000), and 558 lots from First Growth Châteaux (est. $2.4-3.6M). Those seeking large format bottlings will find hundreds of selection including three double-magnums of 1990 Château Le Pin (est. $14,000-20,000 each), a Jeroboam (5L) of 1989 Château Haut-Brion (est. $12,000-18,000), and an Imperial (6L) of 2005 Château Pétrus (est. $26,000-38,000). Collectors will not want to miss HDH’s September auction as this is truly one of the finest groups of Bordeaux ever to be offered for sale.

In addition to magnificent Red Bordeaux, Mr. McClendon’s cellar includes a selection of cult Napa Cabernets. Highlights include three bottles of 1997 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon (est. $7,500-11,000) and a double magnum of 2000 Harlan Estate Red Wine (est. $3,000-4,500). Also available is a small assortment of fine White Burgundy and a handful of rare Rhône wines. This is the last time that wines from this great cellar will ever be auctioned, and nothing like it will ever be seen again. The quality and scale of the wines offered will entice buyers from around the world. Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. is honored to represent this magnificent collection on behalf of Mr. McClendon’s family.

This historic sale will be held at award-winning TRU restaurant in Chicago. Attendance to the auction is open to the public and free of charge. The sale will begin promptly at 8:30am. Pre-registration for the auction and reservations for the lunch at TRU held during the auction ($75) can be made by calling Hart Davis Hart at 312.667.1161 or by emailing [email protected].