 Romanee-Conti is the superlative Burgundy |
The collection boasted impeccable provenance and meticulous storage, impressive in its breadth and depth, with nine decades of the finest Bordeaux and Burgundy wines. It totalled £1.6m ($2.7m) on February 26 in London.
With Burgundy riding high on the market, the six-bottle case of Romanee-Conti - widely regarded as the best examples of Pinot Noir in the world - sold for £39,950 ($66,605), making a 42.6% increase on its £22,000-28,000 estimate.
The secret to Romanee-Conti's success at the top of almost every auction is its rarity, with an average of 5,600 bottles produced each year. Given its reputation, collectors do not readily part with their best bottles.
Following was the equally illustrious Chateau Petrus, with two 12 bottle cases making $25,850 ($25,850). A Bordeaux wine, Chateau Petrus is found in the unclassified Pomerol appellation and is undoubtedly the world's finest Merlot.
 Romanee-Conti leads, but this Chateau d'Yquem from 1937 is the most exciting lot |
Young wines that will age well, or make for a strong investment, dominated the sale, yet 11 bottles of Chateau d'Yquem 1937 also saw top bids, selling for £17,625 ($29,385). Often compared to the 1986 vintage, Sotheby's Serena Sutcliffe describes the 1937 as, "A huge mythical mouthful. Massive."
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