Consisting of Over 1,350 Lots With a Combined Estimated Total Value Exceeding HK$100 Million / Us$12.9 Million
The Most Valuable Single-Owner Collection With the Highest Estimated Total Value Ever for the Category at Christie’s
Live Auction | 21 May | Over 800 Lots | Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Online Auction | Week of 23 May | Over 550 lots
April 14th – Hong Kong – Christie’s Wine & Spirits Department proudly announces “The Visionary’s Spectacular Cellar – Sold to further the impact of London Business School” from an esteemed and celebrated wine connoisseur, to be offered across two sales: a live auction on 21 May at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with over 800 lots and a total low estimate of HK$92.5 million/ US$11.9 million; and an online auction commencing in the week of 23May, with over 550 lots and a total low estimate around HK$17.5 million/ US$2.2 million. With a combined total low estimate of over HK$100 million /US$12.9 million, The Visionary’s Spectacular Cellar will be the most valuable single-owner collection with the highest estimated total value ever for the category, to be offered at Christie’s.
The visionary collector spent more than two decades assembling his collection, and is a passionate wine lover who loves to taste, listen, learn, and above all, share great bottles with friends and family. His generosity extends to his alma mater as the sale proceeds will be donated to London Business School to support its commitment to have an impact on the way the world does business and the way business impacts the world.
Born with a discerning eye for the greatest wines, the collector is delighted to unveil and share his extraordinary cellar with wine enthusiasts worldwide, which includes: 1,400 bottles of Bordeaux First Growths (total estimate: HK$6 million/ US$771,000); over 1,000 bottles of Right Bank icons such as Petrus, Le Pin, and Cheval Blanc; over 8,400 bottles of Burgundy (total estimate: HK$89 million/ US$11.4 million); over 460 bottles of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (total estimate: HK$33 million/ US$4.2 million); 95 bottles of Georges / Henri Jayer (total estimate: HK$6.5 million/ US$835,000); over 430 bottles of Leroy (total estimate: HK$20 million/ US$2.6 million); over 400 bottles of Rousseau (total estimate: HK$6.7 million/ US$861,000); and an impressive array of white wines by legendary producers, featuring Coche Dury, d’Auvenay, Lafon, and Leflaive.
Not only does the distinguished wine connoisseur collect iconic and well-known names, but also wines by up-and-coming producers such as Rossignol Trapet, Domaine de la Vougeraie, Bruno Clavelier, and Jean Claude Bachelet, to name a few. His magnificent cellar also carries over 1,000 bottles of outstanding champagnes from Dom Perignon, Salon, Louis Roederer Cristal, Bollinger, Pol Roger, Taittinger (total estimate: HK$2.8 million/ US$360,000). Rounding out the selection for sale are a great variety of bottles from Rhone, Jura, Spain, Italy, Portugal, U.S.A., and Australia.
Adam Bilbey, Global Head of Wine and Spirits, Christie’s, commented, “It is a huge honour for Christie’s to present The Visionary’s Spectacular Cellar. It belongs to an avid collector and wine lover who I have known for over a decade, and I have been privileged to be part of their vinous journey and am proud to call him a friend. The fact that he is parting ways with a part of his collection that he loves so much, in order to support another one of his true loves, London Business School, is a testament to his generosity and the impactful influence of London Business School.
This cellar has been built on the friendship and trust accumulated over twenty years of collecting wine, and this selection being offered is just a small part of what is one of the world’s great wine cellars, with a focus on contemporary vintages of the very finest Bordeaux and Burgundy. This sale is a wonderful representation of the collector, as the selection is not just a hit list of the greatest names, but also highlights under the radar and upcoming producers that the collector began following thanks to advice from trusted experts and winemakers themselves.
The opportunity to offer this historic collection in our Hong Kong saleroom not only represents another monumental chapter in Christie’s history, but also underscores market resilience, as well as our continued success, expertise, and the strength of our global network in offering the most significant single-owner collections in Asia and beyond.
Please raise a toast to the Visionary, this spectacular cellar, and the impact it will have for London Business School.”
The Visionary Collector remarked, “For over 25 years I have been collecting fine wine, predominantly with the help of Berry Bros. & Rudd, who have several hundreds of years of storied tradition, going back many generations. Quality, provenance and trust have been the quintessential hallmark of excellence at their establishment. Numerous visits to growers and winemakers over the years, helped me understand the passion, patience and above all, the labour of love that make fine wines possible. This is similar to the labour of love the faculty and staff of the London Business School give to this wonderful place of learning, which has been most inspiring for so many alumni like myself.
It is therefore with humility and love that I would make a gift of a portion of my life long fine wine collection to the London Business School so that it may continue to have an impact on the way business impacts the world through its students, executives and alumni, right now and throughout the journey of their lives.”
François Ortalo-Magné, Dean of the London Business School, commented, “At London Business School we offer life-changing learning experiences borne out of high-quality research, the diversity of our community, our learning environment, and the innovative ways in which we teach. The consignor’s generous gift will allow us to make our unique offering accessible to more students and alumni, more organisations, and more world influencers, empowering them to have a profound impact on the world.
