HONG KONG.- On 4 October, Sotheby’s will present the important sale of Domaine Clarence Dillon: Wines Direct from the Cellars of Château Haut-Brion – Château Quintus – Château La Mission Haut-Brion to open its Autumn 2013 Sale Series 2013 held in the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. This is the very first time that Domaine Clarence Dillon – the owner of Château Haut-Brion, the Bordeaux First Growth, and Château La Mission Haut-Brion, as well as the recently acquired St. Émilion estate, Château Quintus– offers treasures direct from their cellars through an auction in Asia. Estimated at HK$11.4 – 16.4 million / US$1.5 – 2.1 million*, 550 lots spanning over a century from 1891 to 2012 – all which have never left the Châteaux – will be offered.

The last time Domaine Clarence Dillon opened their cellars was at Sotheby’s New York in 2004, where North and South American private collectors enthusiastically bid for wines that were in perfect condition. This exclusive sale gives Asian collectors a unique opportunity to acquire some of the best and rarest vintages, all with perfect provenance, coming direct from the cellars of these three top Châteaux. All wines on offer have been stored perfectly before being shipped to Hong Kong via dedicated temperature-controlled ocean freight.

The exciting ex-cellar sale is led by Château Haut-Brion, represented by over 170 lots, estimated at HK$5 – 7 million / US$650,000 – 940,000, in six different formats. Highlights include very rare bottles of 1891, 1911 and 1918; full cases of classic vintages such as 1959 and 1961, as well as the already legendary Château Haut-Brion 1989 in various bottle sizes.

For La Mission Haut-Brion, there is an impressive selection of over 120 lots featuring a jeroboam of the 1989 vintage and a vertical of 5 bottles from 1953 to 1959. Joining the two flagship estates are their second wines – Le Clarence de Haut-Brion and La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion. Outstanding years such as 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010 surely appeal to collectors looking for great value.

Also included in the sale are the fabulous, rare white wines from both properties –Château Haut-Brion Blanc and La Mission Haut-Brion Blanc and its antecedent, Laville Haut Brion. Highlights include a full case of Château Haut-Brion Blanc 1989, alongside with 2 vertical lots in magnums (1993 - 1999 and 2000 – 2011).

Domaine Clarence Dillon Wine Console and Rare Château Haut-Brion Wines Sold To Benefit Médecins San Frontières Hong Kong
This extraordinary sale also includes an exquisite wooden wine console designed by HRH Prince Robert of Luxembourg, President of Domaine Clarence Dillon, and Linley London which will be auctioned as part of the sale to benefit Médecins San Frontières Hong Kong. This magnificent cabinet (No. 11), donated by Domaine Clarence Dillon, is part of a limited series of 15 consoles specially designed to house some of the best and rarest vintages of Château Haut-Brion: 1935, 1945, 1959, 1961, 1975, 1989, 1990 and 2009, all of which have never left the estate’s cellar. In addition, the lot also comes with a total of 12 bottles of the highly acclaimed 2010 vintage of Château Haut-Brion and Château Haut-Brion Blanc.

Hand crafted out of the most precious woods, the cabinet features secret drawers filled with fine silverware created and engraved by renowned Italian silversmith and jewellery designer, Buccellati. The opportunity for the successful bidder to enjoy a visit plus an exclusive lunch or dinner for eight at Château Haut-Brion is set to bring extra excitement to the auction. All proceeds of this console, estimated at HK$800,000 – 1.2 million / US$100,000 – 150,000, will be donated to Médecins San Frontières Hong Kong in support of its efforts to bring quality medical care and emergency aid to people caught in crisis based on humanitarian principles.

Serena Sutcliffe, Master of Wine (M. W.), Head of Sotheby's International Wine Department, said: “In 2004, the 10th anniversary of Sotheby’s New York wine auctions, Domaine Clarence Dillon paid us the compliment of giving Sotheby’s a superb selection of their wines for the celebration sale. This year, during Sotheby’s 40th anniversary in Asia, we are privileged to partner again with Domaine Clarence Dillon to bring such a unique collection of wines direct from their cellars to connoisseurs in this region. We are delighted that the cellar doors have opened wide to encompass over a century of historic wines, which are truly the product of immense skill, vinous treasures that are the pride of France and the envy of the world.”

HRH Prince Robert of Luxembourg, Chairman and CEO of Domaine Clarence Dillon and Quintus SAS, remarked: “2014 will mark 80 years since Clarence Dillon, my Great-Grandfather, first visited Château Haut-Brion. This year my family celebrates 30 years of stewardship at Château La Mission Haut-Brion as well as the bottling of our first physical vintage of Château Quintus. We have never in the history of our Company offered such a rare and deep collection at auction. We look forward to opening up our cellars and to sharing some of our finest treasures through this unprecedented sale and celebration.”