Acker To Host March Auction In Hong Kong

Acker Merrall & Condit, the world's leading wine auctioneer and America's oldest fine wine merchant, is pleased to announce its next Hong Kong sale to be held on 22^nd and 23^rd March at Hong Kong’s Island Shangri-La and The Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. Over 950 lots valued at HK$40+ million/US$5+ million will be offered in the auction, featuring some of the world’s most outstanding collections of fine wines.

John Kapon, CEO of Acker Merrall & Condit Companies, said: “We kicked off 2013 with strong sales in Hong Kong and New York. Auctions early in a year often set the tone and momentum for the rest of the year, which makes me excited about 2013 looking forward. Demand for Bordeaux, both older and recent vintages alike, continues to replenish, and Burgundy remains highly sought after. We recently finished the successful auction of the greatest collection of Italian wines ever to come to market, and there is a growing thirst for rare cult wines from America’s top estates. Demand is growing everywhere. As the first sale in the Year of the Snake, we are delighted to bring to our collectors four sensational featured collections, and superlots from Marcassin and Harlan in California, two of California’s greatest estates, alongside our usual spectacular array of the most highly sought after wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy.”

DRC GEMS

Acker has played the leading role in bringing the best Burgundy wines and particularly rare Domaine de la Romanée Conti (DRC) masterpieces to the auction market in Asia. Taking center-stage in this sale is the treasure trove of its epic vintage and one of the last of its kind: an original banded wooden case of 6 bottles of 2005 Romanée Conti (estimate: HK$720,000-960,000/ US$90,000-120,000, Lot 251). Further DRC treasures are 12 bottles of 1999 DRC Assortment in original wooden case (estimate: HK$280,000-400,000/ US$35,000-50,000, Lot 688), two 3 bottle lots of the great 1999 Romanee-Conti (estimate: HK$260,000-380,000/US$32,000-48,000, Lot 365 and Lot 713), 3 bottles of 2001 Romanée Conti (estimate: HK$200,000-260,000/ US$24,000-32,000, Lot 690) and 3 bottles of 2004 Romanée Conti (estimate: HK$180,000-240,000/US$22,000-30,000, Lot 691).

AN EXQUISITE COLLECTION OF BORDEAUX AND SEVEN VINTAGES OF ROMANEE-CONTI

Stellar offerings from the cellar of a great collector bring together two of the most famous properties from France (Lots 704-713). Gems include an original wooden case of 12 bottles of 1982 Château Pétrus (estimate: HK$480,000-640,000/US$60,000-80,000, Lot 706) as well as seven vintages of Romanée Conti in multiple bottle lots highlighted by an original wooden case of 12 bottles of 1988 (estimate: HK$800,000-1,120,000/US$100,000-140,000, Lot 707), 3 bottles of 1990 (estimate: HK$320,000-440,000/ US$40,000-55,000 , Lot 709) and one of two lots in this auction of 3 bottles of the great 1999 (estimate: HK$260,000-380,000/US$32,000-48,000, Lot 713).

FOUR IMPORTANT FEATURED COLLECTIONS

The sale also offers multiple featured collections. The first represents a serious cellar of Bordeaux and Burgundy’s great estates (Lot 1-90). 12 vintages of Lafite, including the 1982 in an original wooden case of 12 bottles (Estimate: HK$240,000-320,000/US$30,000-40,000, Lot 6) and 4 magnums (Estimate: HK$200,000-280,000/ US$24,000-35,000, Lot 7) form the backbone of its Bordeaux section. Other great Bordeaux vintages include a very rare original wooden case of 3 double magnums of 1990 Pétrus (estimate: HK$360,000-480,000/ US$45,000-60,000, Lot 41, illustrated above) and cases of Margaux 1982, 1983 and 1986 as well as a parcel of the 1996 Margaux in original wood cases.

The Burgundy section is equally noteworthy highlighted by an original wooden case of 1962 Leroy Richebourg (estimate: HK$200,000-280,000/US$24,000-35,000, Lot 65), an original wooden case of 1962 Leroy Romanée St. Vivant (estimate: HK$200,000-280,000/US$24,000-35,000, Lot 67) and 12 bottles of the highly sought after 2009 Rousseau Chambertin (estimate: HK$96,000-128,000/US$12,000-16,000, Lot 44).

Another featured collection comes from a knowledgeable collector who is passionate about provenance (Lots 260-489). He has been traveling to Europe’s great wine regions for many years, visiting the top properties in France, Italy, Germany and Spain. French highlights include an original wooden case of 3 bottles of 1999 Romanée Conti (estimate: HK$260,000-380,000/US$32,000-48,000, Lot 365) and 6 bottles of 2000 Pétrus (estimate: HK$144,000-200,000/US$18,000-24,000, Lot 329). There are also many additional lots of original wood cases of Bordeaux from the great names of that famed region and the already legendary 2005s from Rousseau and Vogue.

Discerning collectors will be delighted to discover a selection of exquisite wine in this sale that comes from one of the leading collectors in Europe (Lots 91-221). Since the late 1990s, he has travelled and tasted extensively from barrel in Europe’s great regions to assemble a tremendous collection from each region's finest terroirs and leading growers. He bought the vast majority of this consignment on release then stored the wines immediately in one of the UK’s top facilities. The collection begins with nine pristine lots of one of the very hardest to find Bordeaux, a wine that competes often with the great Petrus for top honors in Pomerol - Chateau Lafleur. There is an outstanding selection of white Burgundies from great vintages such as Roulot, Sauzet, Henri Boillot, LeMoine, Bouchard and Fevre. Highlights include 42 perfectly stored lots from one of France’s greatest estates, Raveneau. Including a rare 6 magnum lot of their 2005 Chablis Clos (estimate: HK$48,000-64,000/US$6,000-8,000, Lot 140) and a two-case parcel of 2006 Chablis Clos (estimate: HK$32,000-40,000/US$4,000-5,000, Lot 141-142, illustrated above). Also of note is a unprecedented offering of Trimbach’s Clos Ste. Hune Riesling, a wine that competes with the greatest of grand cru white Burgundies. Twenty lots of this iconic wine will be offered, including 9 bottles of 1983 (estimate: HK$32,000-48,000/US$4,000-6,000, Lot 194) and 12 bottles of 1988 (estimate: HK$24,000-32,000/US$3,000-4,000, Lot 195).

The last featured collection comes from a collector with a keen eye toward provenance, premier producers and top vintages (Lot 714-861). He has accumulated his cellar over his years working in the wine trade in Europe, many wines of which were purchased on release or even ex-cellar. Bordeaux of great vintages is the cornerstone of this collection. Highlights include 6 magnums of 2000 Lafite (estimate: HK$128,000-192,000/US$16,000-24,000, Lot 753) and an exceptional vertical of 18 bottles of Yquem beginning with 1934 (estimate: HK$112,000-160,000/US$14,000-20,000, Lot 816). This excellent collection also offers big format rarities including a Jeroboam of 1989 La Mission Haut Brion (estimate: HK$32,000-48,000/US$4,000-6,000, Lot 746) and 3 Imperials of 2003 Latour in original wooden cases (estimate: HK$48,000-64,000/US$6,000-8,000, Lot 769-771).

SUPERLOTS FROM CALIFORNIA

Acker is privileged to also offer two Superlots of elite and rare world class red wines from California: Marcassin’s great Pinot Noir and Harlan.

Marcassin is one of California’s most adored and collectible wines, and it has long been one of the more difficult wines to acquire. On offer is a Marcassin Superlot of 186 bottles of 12 great vintages (estimate: HK$320,000-480,000/US$40,000-60,000, Lot 252) from a collector who purchased each and every bottle of this lot directly from the winery. Another Superlot comprises 42 bottles of 7 vintages of Harlan, arguably California’s greatest Cabernet-based wine in the modern era (estimate: HK$200,000-280,000/US$26,000-35,000, Lot 253). This magnificent vertical collection in pristine original wooden cases spans 1991-1997 and is from a consignor who has been a long-time collector of Napa Valley wines. This is a great opportunity to obtain very rare, early vintages of this cult legend.

A special section of the sale is devoted to parcels of the top Chateaux from the heralded 2009 vintage, featuring Carruades, Haut Brion, La Mission, Lafite, Latour, Margaux and Mouton as well as Cheval Blanc and Pétrus all in pristine original wooden cases. Highlights include 12 bottles of Petrus in banded owc’s (estimate: HK$280,000-400,000/US$35,000-50,000, Lot 249) and Lafite in original wooden cases (estimate: HK$96,000-128,000/US US$12,000-16,000 each, Lot 234-239) and 3 parcel cases of Latour in original wooden cases (estimate: HK$96,000-128,000/US$12,000-16,000 each, Lot 240-242).