HONG KONG.- Acker Merrall & Condit, the world’s leading wine auctioneer and America’s oldest fine wine merchant, started the autumn sale season in Hong Kong with fantastic results. Held on 21 & 22 September 2012 at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, it was the largest wine auction of the new season so far, achieving a spectacular total of HK$61,796,676/US$7,922,651 with 98% sold, including 36% of lots selling for prices above their high estimates. The legendary Champagne Collection of Robert Rosania generated immense interest from worldwide collectors and realized nearly US$1 million in total. Eighty-eight new world records were set, including forty-seven for Champagne, amongst those twelve for Krug, eight for Roederer and six for Salon.

John Kapon, CEO of Acker Merrall & Condit Companies, said, “We are thrilled with the remarkable results of our first sale of the Fall here in Hong Kong, in which nearly HK$8 million of Champagne from the collection of Robert Rosania was sold. I don’t think there is another collection in the world that could achieve such a fact, and Champagne lovers and connoisseurs took notice, including the world’s #1 Champagne expert Richard Juhlin, who joined us in Hong Kong this week to witness this sensational event. The sale is a testament to the growing strength of the global Champagne market. I was impressed by local collectors’ passion and appetite for Champagne, which showed me that the market is continuing to strengthen by diversifying. I was also impressed with the demand for older wines in general, which is a sign that the market is maturing, pun intended. Fine and rare Bordeaux and Burgundy wines still dominated the Top Ten lots, showing the intense demand that still remains for those wines in the marketplace, led by Mouton Rothschild, DRC, Henri Jayer, Latour, Petrus and Lafite Rothschild. Bordeaux regained a bit of bounce in the salesroom, another good sign.”

THE CHAMPAGNE COLLECTION OF ROBERT ROSANIA
The extraordinary offering from Robert Rosania, the world’s greatest champagne collector, attracted enthusiastic bidding throughout the sale. Rare bottles from the most famous and legendary Champagne houses were featured in this incredible consignment. The top lot was 6 bottles of 1959 Salon, which achieved a record price of HK$221,400/US$28,385 (Lot 672).

World Records were set. Top selling lots included 12 bottles of 1982 Clos du Mesnil selling for HK$147,600/US$18,923 (Lot 871), and 12 bottles of 1988 Clos du Mesnil realizing HK$147,600/US$18,923 (Lot 872). 12 bottles of 1979 Krug sold for HK$98,400/US$12,615 (Lot 844). A single bottle of rarest 1966 Blanc de Blancs achieved HK$108,240/US$13,877 (Lot 869). 1966 is often hailed as the best vintage from Champagne’s greatest decade. This is the only vintage ever made of this wine and only 500 bottles were made. Fetching the exact same price was also a rare bottle of 1947 Krug Collection (Lot 826).

Other notable Champagne lots included:
• A bottle of 1911 Moet & Chandon (HK$83,640/US$10,723, Lot 93)

• A magnum of 1964 Roederer Cristal (HK$54,120/US$6,938, Lot 109)

• 12 bottles of 1990 Roederer Cristal (HK$59,040/US$7,570, Lot 453)

• 6 bottles of 1976 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne (HK$98,400/US$12,615, Lot 657), nearly tripling its pre-sale high estimate

• 6 magnums of 1985 Salon (HK$73,800/US$9,462, Lot 680)

• 6 magnums of 1996 Salon (HK$54,120/US$6,938, Lots 695-696)

SUPERB BORDEAUX TREASURES
Bordeaux regained some strength in the market, accounting for seven of the Top 10 selling lots of this sale. Strong prices were realized for a super vertical of 67 bottles of Mouton Rothschild that sold for HK$541,200/US$69,385 (Lot 818) and a 56-bottle vertical of Latour selling for HK$393,600/US$50,462 (Lot 817).

A case of 1982 Lafite in owc fetched HK$344,400/US$44,154 (Lot 241), while Petrus highlights included a case of the legendary 1982 vintage (HK$393,600/US$50,462, Lot 821), a two-case parcel of 1990 (HK$344,400/US$44,154 per lot, Lot 619-620) and a case of 1989 in owc (HK$344,400/US$44,154, Lot 610).

PRESTIGIOUS JAYER AND DOMAINE DE LA ROMANEE CONTI
Prestigious Burgundy and DRC bottles commanded impressive prices. The top lot of this section was 10 bottles of 1987 Henri Jayer Richebourg which realized HK$467,400/US$59,923 (Lot 410) after spirited bidding. An exceptional 12-bottle case of 1990 La Tâche achieved HK$418,200/US$53,615 (Lot 294). Strong bids were recorded for the sensational 2005 La Tâche in banded original wooden cases. A 12-bottle lot of this vintage sold for HK$369,000/US$47,308 (Lot 988) and another 6-bottle lot sold for HK$186,960/US$23,969 (Lot 738).

Further DRC highlights included:
• 3 bottles of 2007 Romanée Conti in owc (HK$221,400/US$28,385, Lot 755)

• 3 bottles of 2008 Romanée Conti in owc (HK$246,000/US$31,538, Lot 756)

• 3 bottles of 2009 Romanée Conti in banded owc (HK$319,800/US$41,000, Lot 1002)