HONG KONG.- Sotheby’s April wine auctions in Hong Kong will present the most important collection of fine and rare wines to have appeared as a single sale at Sotheby’s for over a decade - The Ultimate Cellar, which will be auctioned over two days on 2 and 3 April 2011 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The Ultimate Cellar is breathtaking in its range and quality; nearly 11,000 bottles, including an exceptionally rare number of large formats, grouped into just under 1,300 lots will be offered and is estimated at HK$55 – 80 million (US$7 - 10 million),* making this sale the highest-value wine auction ever held at Sotheby’s Hong Kong.

At a time when Asian collectors are buying the wines of Burgundy in ever increasing numbers,the sale offers the largest collection of wines from DRC, ever to be sold at auction. There are 2,800 bottles and 383 lots of DRC, spanning 60 years from 1942 to 2005. In addition to the amazing range of DRC wines, there are also 129 lots from other great estates from the region including Henri Jayer, Domaine Leroy, Domaine Ponsot, Armand Rousseau and Comte Georges de Vogüé. Another major strength of the collection is the superb selection of white Burgundy, which is of a range and quality never been seen before at auction. The red Bordeaux is also extremely impressive with a large assortment of all the first growths including an exceptional range of Château Haut-Brion. The great vintages such as 1990, 1989, 1986, 1985, 1982, 1961 and 1959 are particularly well represented.

Serena Sutcliffe, MW, Worldwide Head of Wine at Sotheby’s, said: “This is the sort of extraordinary collection that one sees only a few times during one’s life. It is unique in the depth and quality of composition making it simply The Ultimate Cellar. One of the first sensations we felt upon visiting the collection was admiration for the exemplary quest for quality exercised by the owner, followed by amazement as to how he managed to acquire such treasures on this scale. He loves wine deeply, and took immense trouble and time to learn more about it and understand why some wines are truly great. Wine’s real place in this world is to give pleasure and enhance lives, and so we are delighted to bring this precious collection to Asia for it to find new wine-loving owners who will experience the sheer joy of its ethereal scents and tastes.”

SOURCING AND STORAGE
All the wine in the collection is impeccably sourced and has excellent provenance. The majority was purchased direct from the Château or Domaine and this is particularly the case with the extraordinary range of wines from the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. The cellar in which this collection was housed was a feat of engineering. The temperature in the custom designed, state-of-the-art space was controlled to remain constant throughout, meaning collectors can have total confidence that all the wine was kept in the optimal condition.

AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS

Red Burgundy
The highlight of this category is a selection of 2,800 bottles and 383 lots of Domaine de la Romanée Conti with classic vintages such as 1964, 1971, 1978, 1985, 1990. Other highlights include:

• 2 cases of La Tâche 1990, est. HK$320,000 – 460,000 (US$40,000 – 60,000) per case

• 3 cases of La Tâche 1985, est. HK$280,000 – 340,000 (US$35,000 – 45,000) per case

• 4 cases of Richebourg 1990, est. HK$130,000 – 190,000 (US$17,000 – 25,000) per case

• 3 magnums of La Tâche 1971, est. HK$120,000 – 160,000 (US$15,000 – 20,000)

• 1 case of Romanée-Conti 1990, est. HK$1,300,000 - 1,900,000 (US$170,000-240,000)

White Burgundy
The sale features nearly 700 bottles from Domaine Leflaive with 13 vintages of Montrachet. Among other highlights are:

• 146 bottles from Domaine Ramonet, including 16 vintages of Montrachet

• 144 bottles from Comtes Lafon, including 14 vintages of Montrachet

• 168 bottles of Montrachet DRC from 1967 to 2005, including 12 bottles of
Montrachet 1990, est. HK$240,000 – 380,000 (US$30,000 – 50,000)

Other significant white Burgundy selections come from Coche-Dury, Joseph Drouhin Marquis de Laguiche, Niellon, Louis Latour and Sauzet.

White Bordeaux
Another special element of this unique sale is the extraordinary selection of dry white Bordeaux, the greatest to appear at auction.

• Over 529 bottles of Château Haut-Brion Blanc from 1976 – 2001, including 12 bottles of Haut-Brion Blanc 1989, est. HK$120,000 – 190,000 (US$15,000 – 25,000)

• 750 bottles of Château Laville Haut-Brion from 1962 – 2002, including 12 bottles from 1989, est. HK$28,000 –34,000 (US$3,500 – 5,000)

• 153 bottles of Domaine de Chevalier Blanc from 1983 – 1995

• 223 bottles of Sauternes, including Château d’Yquem from 1940 – 2001

Red Bordeaux
The sale features over 400 bottles of Latour from 1945 – 1995, 154 bottles of Pétrus from 1947 – 1996, and 230 bottles of Mouton Rothschild from 1941 – 1995.

• Château Lafite 1982 in both bottle and magnum, est. HK$340,000 – 500,000
(US$45,000 – 65,000) for the bottle cases; and HK$380,000 – 550,000
(US$50,000 – 70,000) for lots of 6 magnums

• A lot of 6 bottles of Château Pétrus 1961, est. HK$160,000 – 240,000 (US$20,000 - 30,000)

• 4 cases of Château Mouton Rothschild 1982, est. HK$150,000 – 190,000 (US$19,000 – 25,000) per case

• 12 bottles Château La Mission Haut Brion 1961, est. HK$160,000 – 240,000 (US$20,000 – 30,000)

• 2 cases of Château Latour 1959, est. HK$120,000 – 190,000 (US$15,000 – 25,000) per case

• 4 cases of Château Margaux 1982, est. HK$110,000 – 160,000 (US$14,000 – 20,000) per case

• 2 cases of Château Haut-Brion 1959, est. HK$95,000 – 160,000 (US$12,000 – 20,000) per case

• 15 cases of Château Haut-Brion 1982, est. HK$60,000 – 85,000 (US$8,000 – 11,000) each