THE Season to be Merry extended year round in some quarters. Sotheby’s wine auctions in 2010 brought an overall global total of US$88,270,602. This is more than double the figure for 2009 and the highest in the company’s forty years of wine auctions. There was extraordinary demand from Asian collectors with every bottle offered in eight Hong Kong auctions finding a buyer and major Asian participation in London and Hong Kong sales. Globally 99% of wine lots found buyers, and all 23 auctions exceeded the high estimate.
The Asian sales were led by the two auctions of wine direct from the Châteaux – Cheval Blanc, Yquem and Dom Pérignon which fetched $2.6 million in May and Lafite Ex Cellars which brought $8.3 million in October.
There was a new record for a single standard sized bottle at the Ex Cellars sale when a bottle of Château Lafite 1869 sold for $232,692.
Sotheby’s will offer the Andrew Lloyd Webber Wine Collection in Hong Kong on January 22 next.
