A 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild with its own wooden case provided the top lot of Acker Merrall & Condit's December 20 auction in New York.

The Bordeaux sold for $36,900, defeating the $29,500 realised by five bottles of 1993 Roumier Musigny.

The $2.3m auction caps an excellent year for the auction house, as John Kapon, the company's CEO, explains.

"I am very proud that we finished 2013 yet again as the #1 global wine auction firm, and just as proud that so much hard work over the years has made us that #1 firm for an unprecedented 7 of the past 8 years," he said.

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