US$6.3 Million, 99% Sold, 246 New World Records
DELAWARE – February 8, 2021 – Acker’s Thursday and Friday night auction saw an explosion of activity as bidders blew past the estimates again and again as the company’s third annual Grande Fête de Bourgogne auction achieved US$6.3 million in sales and was 99% sold. Eleven, electric, Domaine-direct consignment finished the fête in fine fashion on Friday night, as 82% of all possible lots direct from these Domaines achieved record-setting prices. Demand was incredible for the perfect provenance of these lots and also throughout the two days, with 246 overall New World Records set, as collectors continued to battle boisterously for the world’s finest and rarest wines.
This sale was, of course, dedicated to Burgundy, and so were the sale’s Top Ten Lots, led by an exceptional twelve bottles of 1985 Dujac Clos de la Roche in its original box that sold for $130,725, a New World Record. In second place stood an equally rare twelve bottles of 2004 Domaine Leflaive Montrachet in OWCs that realized $112,050. A string of large formats followed, as one Jeroboam of 1997 Domaine de la Romanee Conti Romanee Conti fetched $99,600, another New World Record. A Jeroboam of 1985 Dujac Clos St. Denis sold for $52,290 in a record-setting fourth place, then one Methuselah of 1995 DRC Romanee St. Vivant realized $47,310, coming in fifth, and a record-setting magnum of 2010 Domaine Leflaive Montrachet in OWC brought in $43,575, good for the sixth spot. A three-way tie twisted up two of Burgundy’s best names in seventh position, as two bottles of 1980 DRC Romanee Conti, one Jeroboam of 1996 DRC La Tache in OWC, and twelve bottles of 1998 Domaine Leroy Latricieres Chambertin, all sold at $39,840 a piece, with two New World Records for the standard-sized bottle lots. Rounding out the Top Ten were ten bottles of 1997 DRC La Tache that realized $37,350.
The roster of 56 New World Records from the eleven, Domaine-direct consignments was started by rising star Yvon Clerget, as one Jeroboam of 2018 Clos de Vougeot realized $1,619. From Chateau de la Tour, one Jeroboam of 2017 Clos Vougeot Vieilles Vignes Hommage a Jean Morin sold for $1,743, followed by one of Domaine de Montille’s flagship cuvées as a Jeroboam of 2010 Vosne Romanee Les Malconsorts Cuvee Christiane sold for $4,731. Dueling library releases realized new records from historic Domaines as a single bottle of 1959 H. Gouges Nuits St. Georges Les St. Georges sold for $4,731 and one bottle of 1923 Faiveley Clos Vougeot realized $5,976. From the storied Maison Joseph Drouhin, one Jeroboam of 2007 Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche brought in $4,358. Gevrey Chambertin powerhouses put forward powerful prices, as one magnum of 2018 Duroche Griotte Chambertin sold for $6,225 and one magnum of B. Dugat-Py Chambertin Vieilles Vignes sold for $6,848. A single bottle of legendary 1978 Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche realized $7,470, followed by a marvelous magnum of 2005 Meo Camuzet Vosne Romanee Cros Parantoux, which shattered estimates at $11,205. Domaine du Comte Liger-Belair’s New World Records were headlined by one magnum of 2003 La Romanee that realized $8,715. Also of note amongst the 246 New World Records were the twenty total set by Domaine Leflaive, twelve by Domaine Armand Rousseau, nine by Domaine Dujac and eight by DRC, four of Burgundy’s biggest stars.
“While our Grande Fête de Bourgogne auction is one that celebrates Burgundy first and foremost, I was amazed at the incredible demand across all segments of the market,” extolled Acker Chairman, John Kapon. “Burgundy was the belle of the ball, of course, but Bordeaux, Champagne, Rhone, California and Italy all sizzled to warm up some frigid, winter temperatures around the globe. The market just keeps getting stronger and stronger, and we have more of what it wants, with two incredible sales lined up, beginning with an estimated US$6 million available in Delaware on March 11th and 12th, followed by an estimated US$10 million, single cellar sale in Hong Kong on Saturday, March 27th, which will put Acker’s 2021 Q1 sales close to US$40 million! Collectors should take note, there’s never been a better moment to participate in the action. If you’ve never sold before, now’s the time!”
The auction season continues for Acker with another “live online” sale in Delaware on March 11th and 12th and returns to Hong Kong with a spectacular, single cellar sale on March 27th. Acker is currently accepting wines for its April and May “live online” auctions, with weekly web auctions closing every week.
