Half a Million in Seller Proceeds to Benefit Top Charitable Institutions
Top Lots from this Wednesday’s New York City Auction
Lot 309: 6 magnums 2010 Dujac Chambertin in OWC
Lot 815: 6 bottles 1994 Sine Qua Non Syrah Queen of Spades in OCB
Lot 846: 1 bottle 1995 Sine Qua Non Rosé Queen of Hearts
NEW YORK – MAY 17, 2019 – Collectors of the California cult winery, Sine Qua Non, stampeded the sales floor on Wednesday night in Manhattan, as over a half a million dollars of “SQN” traded at sizzling, significant levels, confirming Sine Qua Non’s status as one of the most collectible wines in the world. Nearly 160 lots of the celebrated winery founded by Elaine and Manfred Krankl were snapped up as collectors sought rare, limited editions with their exceptional artwork. Over half a million dollars of the proceeds will benefit non-profit organizations: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and The Best Gift Foundation, chosen by the consignor and in conjunction with the Krankls, for whom the medical center has special meaning.
Exceptional SQN formats and lots led the bidding in tandem with the most sought-after wines of Burgundy, demonstrating that savvy collectors place a premium on legendary names. “It was exhilarating to auction such iconic items from this incredible collection of Sine Qua Non,” said Acker chairman John Kapon. “The demand for these wines continues to go up, and when you drink a lot of them, as we did all week, you can see why.”
Top Selling SQN Lots
The list of top-selling SQN lots is lengthy and impressive, led by Lot 815, a six-bottle lot of 1994 SQN Syrah Queen of Spades in its original box that sold for $22,320. Additional lots brought impressive prices: Lot 846, 1 bottle of the 1995 “Rosé Queen of Hearts” was purchased for $13,640. Two double magnums of 1995 Syrah “Red Handed and The Other Hand” in OWC brought $12,400. A single bottle of 1996 “Rosé E-Lips” sold for $5,580 and 1 bottle of 1999 Sine Qua Non Gewurztraminer “Thank you for Playing” was bought for $11,160. A more extensive list of key SQN lots is available upon request.
Top 10 Lots
Burgundy made a clean sweep of the sale’s Top 10 lots, led by the famed Domaines Romanee Conti, Dujac and Henri Jayer. Lot 545, 12 bottles of 2005 DRC La Tache, led the auction, selling for $74,400, followed by six magnums in OWC of the 2010 Dujac Chambertin purchased for $52,080, and a magnum of the 2003 DRC Romanee Conti, which sold for $47,120. Six magnums of 2009 Dujac Chambertin in OWC and two bottles of 1985 Henri Jayer Richebourg both sold for $39,680, followed by two DRC La Tache lots that both sold for $37,200 consisting of five bottles of 1980 and two rare magnums of 1990. DRC continued its strong performance with five bottles of 1980 DRC Richebourg and two bottles of 2002 DRC Romanee Conti each selling for $32,240. In a tie for eighth place in the Top 10 lots were 12 bottles of 2009 Dujac Chambertin, 12 bottles of 2005 DRC Romanee St. Vivant, and two bottles of 2006 DRC Romanee Conti all of which sold for $29,760.
“This auction proves that the ongoing thirst to acquire both Californian and European icons at all levels, in all formats is unquenched,” Kapon said, referring to the diversity of prestige bottles in the auction. “As we head into our final month of live auctions for the season, we don’t see that desire relenting as we welcome wines from the cellar of Comte Louis Michel Liger-Belair on June 8th In Hong Kong, as well as the personal collection of renowned German Importer Rudi Wiest on June 19th in New York City.”
Upcoming Auctions
June will be the final month of the live auction season until September, and Acker will conduct live events in Hong Kong, on June 8, featuring a direct consignment from the cellars of the great Comte Louis Michel Liger-Belair, and in New York on June 19, featuring the personal German wine collection of renowned importer Rudi Wiest. Bidders may also bid online from anywhere in the world in real time via AckerLive or from their mobile using the Acker App.
About Acker
Established in 1820, Acker is the oldest wine shop in America and the world’s largest fine and rare wine auction house. The third generation of the wine-merchant family, Acker Chairman John Kapon started the auction business in 1998, pioneering the market in Hong Kong, and elevating it to the world’s No. 1 wine auction house. A master taster and auctioneer, Kapon conducts more than 15 live auctions each year, with online auctions held each month, broadcasting to major Asian cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, and Tokyo, with collectors around the globe participating in real-time bidding.
