Sotheby’s inaugural wine and spirits auction in Geneva proved to be a resounding success, with magnums of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) from the 1970s stealing the spotlight.
The prestigious Côte de Nuits estate dominated the sales, with eight of the top ten highest-selling lots originating from DRC, renowned as one of Burgundy’s most esteemed and globally recognized producers.
Leading the charge were three magnums of 1971 La Tâche, which commanded a staggering 125,000 Swiss francs (£110,000), surpassing even the highest expectations. Additionally, six magnums of 1976 La Tâche fetched CHF37,500, comfortably within their estimated range.
Among the standout sales were individual magnums of 1971 La Tâche, which sold for impressive sums of CHF32,500, CHF27,500, and CHF18,750 respectively. Notably, a bottle of Richebourg from 1947, another esteemed offering from DRC, fetched CHF17,500, exceeding its projected value.
The auction’s total sales reached an impressive CHF573,500 (£504,000), with a remarkable 91% of lots finding buyers from 14 different countries spanning Asia, Europe, and North America.
Frédéric Guyot du Repaire, Sotheby’s deputy head of wine for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, expressed satisfaction with the results, emphasizing the substantial interest from international collectors in rare wines, particularly mature Bordeaux and sought-after Burgundies.
Domaine Armand Rousseau made its mark with a lot featuring two bottles of 1959 Chambertin, fetching CHF20,000, twice the lower end of its estimate.
The auction also featured a notable spirit sale, with Baccarat decanter number 124 of Hennessy’s H8 Cognac, marking a significant moment in the brand’s history, selling for CHF37,500.
As the success of Sotheby’s auction demonstrates the enduring allure of fine wines and spirits among global collectors, anticipation builds for Bonhams Skinner’s ‘Iconic Wines from Passionate Collectors’ online auction, where large-format DRC bottles are expected to captivate bidders once again.
