Acker Merrall’s May 18th evening auction saw over 170 new world records set amongst an estimated US$3.5 Million in sales
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Global demand remained a driving factor for the world’s greatest wines, as international collectors descended on New York both in person and with their bids, buying aggressively across the board, accounting for an exceptionally strong 40% of the sale’s total. Bordeaux seemed to be the benefactor of a lot of that international demand, as prices were noticeably healthy, perhaps sparked by the beginning of the En Primeur campaign, and a better vintage with 2015. Cutting-edge Burgundy Domaines, including the next generation of long established, famous estates, were particularly strong as bidders snapped up numerous lots from names like Liger-Belair, Fourrier, Fontaine-Gagnard, Sauzet, Faiveley andGrivot. The aforementioned producers achieved a significant slice of world records set throughout the night, stealing a bit of the spotlight from some of the more traditionally big names. Italy also had a strong showing in NYC with twenty-four new world records, led by one of the world’s greatest estates, Bruno Giacosa, with eight of those records thanks to a superb European collection featuring rare Barolo and Barbaresco back to 1964.
The classic names of France dominated the night’s Top Lots. A twelve bottle lot of the magnificent 1989 Petrus was the number one lot, selling for $43,225. Two legendary wines from Dujac stood tall, with nine bottles of 1990 Dujac Clos de la Roche selling for $24,700 and four bottles of 1985 Dujac Clos de la Roche bought at $16,055, both grabbing Top Five status, as did three bottles of 1999 Henri Jayer Vosne Romanee Cros Parantoux at $24,700. An imperial of the 1989 Haut Brion sold for $16,055, and cases of 1973 DRC La Tache plus 1985, 1996, 1999 and 2009 Romanee Conti lots made sure that the world’s most important Domaine had its usual presence within the night’s Top Lots.
Over 170 new world records is a big number. Anytime, anywhere. And so is more than 40% of the sale’s total going to international buyers, predominantly in Asia and South America,” said Acker Merrall and Condit Companies’ Chairman and CEO John Kapon. “All the negativity in the international news headlines doesn’t seem to translate to the wine auction floor, and it says a lot about the Acker Merrall brand, and the presence we have globally. We are back in Hong Kong on June 4th with another sensational sale, and we will be joined by the Comte Louis-Michel Liger-Belair, one of Burgundy’s true superstars and best winemakers. This season continues to go from strength to strength in exciting fashion.”
| Highlights from the May 18th, 2016 NYC Auction | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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