A Tribute to Taste and Connoisseurship: Sotheby’s to Offer
The Ethereal Cellar
in Hong Kong on 2 April
Headlined by a Breathtaking Selection of Burgundy and Champagne
The Wines Come Directly from Impeccable Storage Conditions at Octavian UK
“The astounding beauty of this wine collection is matched by its breathtaking width and depth. It is a tribute to taste and connoisseurship, a witness to palate and selection.”
Serena Sutcliffe M.W., Honorary Chairman, Sotheby’s Wine
HONG KONG, 20 March 2023 – On 2 April in Hong Kong, Sotheby’s will offer one of the most superb collections of fine wines. The Ethereal Cellar | Pinnacle of Provenance and Connoisseurship is characterised by both its quality and scale – legendary wines from celebrated producers in standout vintages and in significant quantities, with a sublime line-up of the greatest Champagnes ever made matched by a superlative choice of both red and white Burgundy. All of the wines have been stored in impeccable conditions at Octavian in the UK.
Comprising more than 3,600 bottles across 583 lots carrying a combined estimate in the region of HK$28 million / US$3.5 million, the sale kicks off Sotheby’s wine auction series at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on Sunday 2 April, as part of the company’s 50th anniversary spring sales week in Asia. Wines from the collection will be served in the saleroom to bidders who should register to attend the live auction as soon as possible.
The scale and pedigree of The Ethereal Cellar is exceptional. The owner’s singular focus on the quality of provenance is even more noteworthy when considering the exclusive selection of wines that make up the collection, of only the most sought-after cuvées from the most admired producers.
“When it comes to the most prestigious Single Owner collections, there is one theme above all others that ignites the most excitement and demand throughout the global wine community. The collection offered here has clearly been assembled with that one thing, and one thing only, in mind: the impact of extraordinary provenance. The vast majority of the wines offered here trace their provenance directly back to their original release from the domaines, and inspecting this collection was an enormous pleasure and truly exciting for our team of Specialists – rarely do we encounter such volumes of the very rarest and finest wines in the world, in one place, in such brilliant condition and with such a spotless history.”
George Lacey, Head of Sotheby’s Wine, Asia
“This incredible collection is a very fitting way with which to open our spring wine sale series in Hong Kong, as Sotheby’s celebrates fifty years in Asia. The wines offered here truly represent the best of the best, both in terms of quality and provenance, and we are excited that we will be able to welcome bidders from all over the world back to our sale room on 2nd April, not just to bid in person but to be able to taste and share from a selection of exceptional bottles from this cellar. Sharing is at the heart of appreciating wine, and we are delighted that our global bidders will now have a chance to acquire pristine lots from and share in this extraordinary collection.”
Wendy Lin, Chairman, Sotheby’s Asia
“Collecting wine has been a real passion of mine. The joy was always in the discovery and once I had set my sights on the bottles and vintages for my cellar, the integrity of the provenance was paramount. Keeping these wines in pristine condition once they were in my possession was just as important, whether for my own pleasure in drinking them or when considering their future journey. Decades on, the collection has reached a scale where it is appropriate to share them with fellow wine lovers and collectors around the world.”
The Ethereal Cellar Collector
OVERVIEW OF SALE CONTENTS
- An extraordinary 85 lots of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in acclaimed vintages from 2001 to 2015, including 38 lots of La Tâche alone.
- Across more than 312 lots from Burgundy, in excess of 85% of them are from the most famous Grand Cru vineyard sites only, and only the most celebrated growers – this is an extraordinary proportion by any measure. Namely, Leflaive Chevalier and Batard Montrachet, Comtes Lafon Montrachet, Comtes de Vogue Musigny and Bonnes Mares, Liger-Belair Echezeaux, Bouchard La Romanee, Dujac Clos de la Roche, Rousseau Chambertin and Chambertin Clos de Beze.
• A phenomenal depth of the rarest and most famous vineyards in Champagne, including:
– 82 lots from across three decades of Krug’s most sought-after Vintage, Collection and Clos du Mesnil cuvées, encompassing the most famous vintages from 1973 to 2004
– 60 lots from across four decades of Dom Pérignon Vintage, Oenothèque and Rosé, encompassing the most famous vintages from 1970 to 2008
– The greatest vintages from all of Champagne’s most revered names are represented, including 1990 Selosse (amongst a selection of more 19 lots from Selosse), 2002 Salon Le Mesnil, 2004 Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises, and Philipponnat’s 2008 and 2002 Clos des Goisses in bottles and magnums
-A smattering of Rhône wines, with Paul Jaboulet’s Hermitage La Chapelle in two stand-out vintages (1990 and 2015) and Domaine du Pegau’s superb Cuvée da Capo 2007 in magnum.
SALE HIGHLIGHTS
Red Burgundy
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2015 Assortment (13 bottles), Lot 9118 Estimate HK$450,000-600,000 / US$57,300-76,400
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 2010 Assortment (14 bottles), Lot 9124 Estimate HK$450,000-600,000 / US$57,300-76,400
2005 La Tâche, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (6 bottles), Lot 9110 Estimate HK$300,000-400,000 / US$38,200-51,000
2004 Chambertin, Domaine Armand Rousseau (12 bottles), Lot 9018 Estimate HK$200,000-280,000 / US$25,500-35,700
2015 Chambertin Clos de Bèze, Domaine Armand Rousseau (6 bottles), Lot 9009 Estimate HK$120,000-160,000 / US$15,300-20,400
2010 Echezeaux, Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair (6 bottles), Lot 9052 Estimate HK$100,000-140,000 / US$12,700-17,800
2000 La Romanée, Bouchard (6 bottles), Lot 9211 Estimate HK$35,000-50,000 / US$4,500-6,400
1999 Musigny Vieilles Vignes, Comte Georges de Vogüé (3 bottles), Lot 9163 Estimate HK$24,000-32,000 / US$3,100-4,100
White Burgundy
2005 Montrachet, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (6 bottles), Lot 9234 Estimate HK$380,000-500,000 / US$48,400-63,700
2010 Batard Montrachet, Domaine Leflaive (6 bottles), Lot 9237 Estimate HK$35,000-48,000 / US$4,500-6,100
2000 Montrachet, Domaine des Comtes Lafon (1 bottles), Lot 9250 Estimate HK$14,000-19,000 / US$1,780-149,200
Champagne
1996 Dom Pérignon Oenothèque (12 bottles), Lot 9441 Estimate HK$42,000-55,000 / US$5,350-7,000
1975 Dom Pérignon P3 Rose (1 bottles), Lot 9474 Estimate HK$24,000-32,000 / US$3,100-4,100
1970 Dom Pérignon Oenothèque (3 bottles), Lot 9451 Estimate HK$30,000-40,000 / US$3,800-5,100
2002 Krug Clos du Mesnil (6 bottles), Lot 9392 Estimate HK$60,000-80,000 / US$7,600-10,200
1990 Krug Collection (3 bottles), Lot 9379 Estimate HK$17,000-$24,000 / US$2,200-3,100
1989 Krug Collection (3 bottles), Lot 9381 Estimate HK$17,000-24,000 / US$2,200-3,100
About Sotheby’s Wine
Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury. Sotheby’s promotes access to and ownership of exceptional art and luxury objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 70 categories which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Design, as well as collectible cars and real estate. Sotheby’s believes in the transformative power of art and culture and is committed to making our industries more inclusive, sustainable and collaborative.
Sotheby’s Wine’s annual worldwide auction sales of wine and spirits achieved a record total of $158 million in 2022, a 20% increase from 2021. Sotheby’s currently holds the world records for any whisky collection ever sold at auction, any private wine collection ever sold at auction, the most valuable bottle of wine ever sold at auction and the most valuable bottle of spirits ever sold at auction, in addition to the highest ever total for a charity wine auction.
In addition to auction, Sotheby’s Wine launched a retail business in 2010. With a retail store located in Sotheby’s New York headquarters and e-commerce at www.sothebyswine.com, Sotheby’s Wine offers a carefully curated selection of wines from the world’s most prestigious producers and important regions. Expertly assembled by our experienced specialists, the selection is built upon lasting relationships with winemakers from across the globe, with bottles that are ready for immediate consumption, in addition to investment-worthy wines from highly sought-after vintages. A second retail location opened in Sotheby’s Hong Kong galleries in 2014.
* Estimates do not include buyer’s premium or overhead premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and overhead premium and are net of any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.
