Sotheby's: The Classic Cellar from a Great American Collector
Sotheby's: The Classic Cellar from a Great American Collector
(Image credit: Sotheby's: The Classic Cellar from a Great American Collector)

Held in London on 8 December, Sotheby’s Finest and Rarest Wines, Spirits & Vintage Port capped off a year when wine sales broke numerous records for single bottles, lots and totals – buoyed in large part by Asian buyers’ thirst for Chateau Lafite.

Sotheby’s final wine sale of the year on Wednesday fetched just under £1.973m ($3.097).

Of the top 10 lots sold, seven were Chateau Lafite – five of them, vintage 1982. In the lead were 12 standard size bottles of 1982 which sold for £46,000 – followed by six magnums of the same for £41,000.

‘Lafite continues to ride a wave following the phenomenal success of Sotheby’s October Hong Kong sale of wines direct from the cellars of the Château,’ said Serena Sutcliffe MW, worldwide head of Sotheby’s wine department.

Twelve bottles of Chateau Petrus 1982 fetched £29,900 – while 12 of Chateau Latour 1982 sold for £17,250.

Nine of the top 10 lots went to Asian bidders.

Sotheby’s next wine sale will take place 22-23 January at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong.

Written by Maggie Rosen

Maggie Rosen
Maggie Rosen
Decanter Magazine, Wine Writer & Editor

Maggie Rosen is a wine journalist, editor and author, hailing from New York but based in London. Aside from Decanter, she has contributed to the Financial Times, The Drinks Business, Harpers Wine and Spirit Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, The World of Fine Wine and Meininger's Wine Business International. She is also a member of the Circle of Wine Writers.