Acker Merrall and Condit: Two of the World’s Greatest Collections

Acker Merrall & Condit, the world's leading wine auctioneer and America's oldest fine wine merchant, will hold its first 2013 Hong Kong sale on 25^th and 26^th January at Island Shangri-La and Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. Over 1,000 lots of rare wines valued at HK$40+ million/US$5+ million will be presented in the special sale, which features two of the world’s greatest collections. These gentlemen have collected Europe’s rarest wines for decades, stored their collections perfectly and created legendary tastings in scale and breadth. In addition, this auction will showcase two of Burgundy’s greatest Domaines that every collector considers to be among the region’s elite. Domaine Dujac and Domaine Roulot have consigned treasures directly from their cellars for the very first time - their greatest wines, vintages, vineyards and formats for this exclusive auction.

John Kapon, CEO of Acker Merrall and Condit Companies, said: “In 2012, Acker once again finished the year as the number one fine and rare wine auction house in Asia and the world, another great achievement in a long list, but 2012 already seems like a long time ago! We are excited to look ahead and launch 2013 in typical Acker Merrall fashion, showcasing four remarkable consignments. Our two featured collections are massive and from gentlemen I consider two of the world’s greatest collectors. You will not find greater wines or greater collections anywhere in the world than theirs”.

“Their consignments represent almost half of our January auction – the catalog is well worth your time for their wines alone, one focusing on impeccably stored, older jewels and buried treasures rarely seen, while the other represents perfect provenance, original case Bordeaux at its finest. We are also honored and proud that two of Burgundy’s greatest estates, Domaine Dujac and Domaine Roulot, have chosen Acker to consign treasures directly from their cellars for the first time ever. There is no greater provenance for collectors than these two direct consignments. We are thrilled that both Jeremy Seysses and Jean-Marc Roulot, elite winemakers, will be joining us in Hong Kong for this special occasion. I cannot think of a better way to kick off 2013 than sharing these four collections with our friends in Hong Kong, not to mention all the other great wines in this exciting sale. It is a good sign that 2013 will be another great vintage for Acker Merrall and the fine wine market. ”

TWO OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST COLLECTIONS

Coming from two of the world’s greatest collectors who have been gathering the finest and rarest wines for decades, two magnificent collections will be prominently featured in this sale.

One featured collection comes from a noted physician who is one of the world’s greatest collectors, offering over 275 lots of extraordinary wines (Lot 727-1007). Most of the older wines were purchased in the 1980s from trusted and reliable sources, while many of them have remained untouched for decades. The provenance is superb. Bordeaux highlights include 12 bottles of 1982 Petrus in owc (Estimate: HK$340,000-480,000/US$42,000-60,000, Lot 822). 1961, perhaps the greatest Bordeaux vintage of the past century, is aptly represented by two true legends amongst many others: 3 beautiful bottles of the extraordinary 1961 Petrus (Estimate: HK$160,000-240,000/US$20,000-30,000, Lot 811) and a very rare Jeroboam of 1961 Latour (Estimate: HK$200,000-280,000/US$24,000-35,000, Lot 775). Just a few of many DRC highlights of this magnificent collection include 6 magnums of 1990 DRC Assortment (Estimate: HK$400,000-520,000/US$50,000-65,000, Lot 877), 12 bottles of 1999 DRC Assortment in banded owc (Estimate: HK$280,000-400,000/US$35,000-50,000, Lot 879) and 4 bottles of the legendary 1978 Montrachet (Estimate: HK$200,000-320,000/US$26,000-40,000, Lot 960), considered to be among the very greatest white burgundies ever made.

Returning again to Bordeaux from this great collection, those seeking a combination of the very, very rare, stored under perfect conditions, plus the perfection of older Bordeaux in magnum, wines that are benchmarks for one of the elite estates of Bordeaux should consider lots 730-732: magnums of 1949, 1952 and 1961 Cheval Blanc. Great wines all, magnums that a collector and connoisseur would proudly own and most importantly enjoy with friends.

Mint original cases of top Bordeaux and vinous treasures from other regions will be introduced in their other featured collection (Lot 243-527). The roll-call of greatness includes: five vintages of Angelus, seven of Ausone, ten from Haut Brion, five from l’Evangile, eight from La Mission, six of Lafleur, six of Leoville las Cases, six as well from Margaux, seven from Mouton and a further eight vintages of Pichon Lalande. 

Significant offerings include 12 bottles of 2001 Le Pin in owc (Estimate: HK$144,000-200,000/US$18,000-24,000, Lot 359), 12 bottles of 2000 Ausone in owc (Estimate: HK$112,000-144,000/US$14,000-18,000, Lot 260) and 12 bottles of 2000 Lafleur in owc (Estimate: HK$112,000-144,000/US$14,000-18,000, Lot 346). Great Burgundy has too many highlights to name all from this wonderful collection. But turn your attention to three owc of legendary Musigny from de Vogue, the great 1999, 2001 and 2002 vintages, lots 471-473. Plus 12 perfect bottles in owc of a pinnacle of the great 1959 vintage in Burgundy, Leroy’s Grands-Echezeaux (Estimate: HK$96,000-128,000/US$12,000-16,000 per lot, Lot 494). All wines from this collection have been stored perfectly and represent an ideal opportunity to acquire some of the world’s finest Bordeaux and Burgundy.

DIRECT OFFERINGS FROM DOMAINE DUJAC & DOMAINE ROULOT

Acker is proud and honored to present the largest and the most comprehensive selection of Domaine Dujac’s wines consigned in the history of wine auctions (Lot 170-241). Succeeding in the footsteps of his father, Jeremy Seysses of Domaine Dujac creates highly individual wines that exude aromatic finesse and seduce with elegance. Dujac, of course, is among the greatest estates in the Cote D’Or, and the popularity of their wines is reflected in the top the scores they receive and the prices achieved in all channels. All wines from this collection were personally hand-picked and selected by Jeremy Seysses for this sale, and all were sent directly from the cellars of the Domaine and are of immaculate provenance.

A few of the lengthy list of highlights in this amazing direct consignment include 6 magnums of 1985 Bonnes Mares (Estimate: HK$144,000-200,000/US$18,000-24,000, Lot 209), 6 magnums of 1985 Clos de la Roche in owc (Estimate: HK$144,000-200,000/US$18,000-24,000, Lot 222) and 6 bottles of 1978 Clos de la Roche (Estimate: HK$80,000-120,000/US$10,000-15,000, Lot 220). 

The second of the two historic direct consignments is from the great Domaine Roulot (Lot 151-169). Jean-Marc Roulot has been in charge of Domaine Guy Roulot since 1989. He is very much a purist and white wine specialist. Despite several opportunities to acquire plots of red wine producing parcels, he has stayed true to the origins of his family in Meursault. The reputation of Jean-Marc Roulot is also that of a perfectionist who strives - in every vintage - to create the perfect expression of the chalky and mineral-laden soils of Meursault in his wines. Roulot’s wines are highly sought after the world over by great lovers of the finest whites of Burgundy. This again represents the first time ever that Jean-Marc Roulot has consigned wines to a commercial auction house, making this by far the greatest collection of Roulot’s wines ever to come under the hammer anywhere in the world and all directly from the cellars in Meursault to Hong Kong.

On offer is a one-of-a-kind Methuselah of 2011 Meursault Clos des Bouchères, which is one of only two “first growth” monopoles in all of Meursault (Estimate: HK$16,000-24,000/US$2,000-3,000, Lot 154A). The Clos des Bouchères was sold in 2010 by former owners to investors who asked Domaine Roulot to handle the wines made here. This Methuselah presented at the auction is the first one coming from the first harvest since Domaine Roulot took over the vinification of this storied Monopole and it will be available in mid-2013. A fabulous array of wines with ultra-rare selections of Roulot from 1976 to 2010 are featured including 4 Jeroboams of Perrières from 2007 to 2010 in owc (Estimate: HK$48,000-64,000/US$6,000-8,000, Lot 169), 6 magnums of Perrières from 1976 to 1985 in owc (Estimate: HK$40,000-56,000/US$5,000-7,000, Lot 163) and 6 magnums of Charmes from 1976 to 1986 in owc (Estimate: HK$32,000-40,000/US$4,000-5,000, Lot 157).