cker Merrall & Condit’s Wine Auction in Hong Kong Realizes HK$52 Million

An original case of 1990 DRC La Tache jeroboams, bottle numbers 00001, 00002, and 00003, sold for HK$919,600 (US$118,628) and three magnums of 2005 DRC Romanée Conti fetched HK$726,000 (US$93,654).

There was active bidding for a rare case of 12 bottles of 1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon which realized HK$871,200 (US$112,384).

 

The 30 lots from the legendary collection of Wolfgang Grunewald were 100% sold.  Among the highlights from the collection were a case of 12 bottles of 1990 DRC Romanée Conti in their own wooden case which realized HK$1,064,800 (US$137,359), and six magnums of 1990 DRC La Tache in their own wooden case that fetched HK$459,800 (US$59,314). Three double magnums of 1989 Château Pétrus in their original wooden case sold for HK$411,400 (US$53,070). The Wolfgang Grunewald cellar is one of the last great cellars of the 20th century and the 30 lots on offer represented a “Who's Who” of the top Châteaux and Romanée Conti.

Two unique Krug champagne lots offered in the sale realized fantastic prices.

The first consisted of one Full Cage of Krug Grande Cuvée containing 504 bottles and fetched HK$590,480 (US$76,171) after active bidding, setting a world auction record for Krug Grande Cuvée.  Krug Grande Cuvée is a blend of some of the finest Krug vintages and reserve wines of the past 20 years. The successful bidder not only secured the 504 bottles but also the Cage itself. This lot was a World Première and has never before been commercially available (illustrated right).

 

Another lot was a tribute to Krug 1998, the last vintage of the 20th century declared by Krug, being released internationally in November 2008, and achieved HK$396,880 (US$51,197).  The tribute case is a single 6-pack Custom OWC case containing 1 bottle of Krug Vintage 1998, 1 bottle of 1998 Krug Clos du Mesnil, 1 bottle of Krug Vintage 1988, 1 bottle of Krug 1988 Clos du Mesnil, 1 bottle of Krug Collection Vintage 1938 (Bottle Number 8) and 1 bottle of Krug Collection Vintage 1928 (Bottle Number 8). Each bottle had been in the Krug Cellars since original disgorgement (illustrated left). This unique lot has never been commercially available before, and was created especially as a tribute to the release of Krug 1998 and Acker Merrall & Condit.  As part of this tribute to Krug 1998, the successful bidder on this lot and a companion will be flown from a Major City to Paris First Class, courtesy of Krug, and will then be transported to Reims, where they will be welcomed exclusively by Krug for a one-night, two-day discovery of the maison.

 

 

Founded in 1820, Acker Merrall & Condit is America's oldest fine wine merchant.  It has greatly expanded the services to Auctions, Education, Tastings and Wine Clubs. The company is the biggest wine auctioneer in America with a total of over US$60 million achieved in both 2006 and 2007.  Operating in New York and California, the company holds more than 20 auctions a year, including Internet auctions. The company is devoted to helping its customers buy and sell the best wines, and also to sharing with them the experience of enjoying wine.  Starting out as a family business, three generations of the Kapon family have been dedicated to bringing the best from the vine to their customers.