Acker Merrall & Condit have been having a truly spectacular time over the past few half-decade, and have now concluded another record year in Asia with its two-day Hong Kong sale held on 8 & 10 December 2011 in which over 800 lots were offered and a total of HK$72.75M / US$9.09M achieved with 92% sold.
This spectacular result contributes to Acker Merrall & Condit's 2011 annual Hong Kong sales total of HK$537M / US$69M, attesting to once again its #1 position and leadership in the wine auction market in Asia.
With expected global revenues in 2011 of over US$110 million, Acker's resounding result will top the market in America and the World as well, altogether representing the 'Triple Crown' in the global marketplace. Acker has also become the first wine auction house to break the US$100 million yearly mark in wine auction history.
John Kapon, CEO of Acker Merrall & Condit Companies said, "2011 was a spectacular year for Acker Merrall & Condit. The amazing result of this sale - starring three legendary and compelling superlots of verticals of Mouton Rothschild, Pétrus and Romanée Conti - is a fitting round-up of another record-setting vintage for Acker in Hong Kong.
"This year, not only will we acquire #1 positions in the market of Asia, America and the World, but also become the first wine auction house in history to break US$100 million in annual sales.
"Our tremendous success and continual lead in the global wine market has largely built upon the robust momentum of Hong Kong, now the world's most important fine wine market.
"We are enthralled that another triumphant year in Asia is now ending on a high note with this remarkable sale, where we witnessed strong bidding for the star lots, especially over the vertical of Romanée Conti, which is now the most expensive wine lot sold in any auction anywhere this year."
This trilogy of mega-verticals created a sensation amongst bidders in saleroom, over the telephones and on the internet.
The crown jewel, a Superlot of 55 bottles of every vintage of DRC Romanée Conti released from 1952 - the first post-World War II vintage of Romanée Conti - through to 2007 (with exception of the 1968 which was never released by the Domaine) sold for a staggering, record-breaking price of HK$6,344,000 / US$813,333 (Lot 650) to a Chinese collector over the telephone.
This is the highest price achieved for a single lot at any wine auction anywhere in the world this year, as well as the highest price ever for any lot of Romanée Conti sold at auction.
Equally noteworthy was another Superlot: a vertical Château Mouton Rothschild assembling 101 vintages starts with the rare 1867 and includes numerous, practically non-existent pre-war vintages, and every vintage from 1936 to 2008 (Lot 648). This exceeding rare offering sold for an impressive HK$3,904,000 / US$500,513 after a highly intense bidding battle.