Autumn’s opening auctions seemed to ignore troubled credit markets and strains in the economy.
In its wine-auction debut on 14 September, Skinner, a Boston house,sold 94% of its 224 lots, grossing US$290,460.
Skinner’s catalogue was estimated at US$222,855 to US$313,445. Its top sellers were two lots each of 12 bottles of 2000 Lafite-Rothschild, which fetched US$9,560 each.
Aulden Cellars/Sotheby’s generated US$5,398,591 in separate sales on 7-8 September. The collector Thomas O. Ryder’s 5,477-bottle consignment made US$1,706,698. Four 1974 Heitz Martha’s Vineyard magnums went for US$26,887.
Zachys fetched US$5,349,038 – ‘one of the strongest auctions we have ever held,’ the house said – on 7-8 September. Six bottles of Louis Roederer Cristal rosé, estimated at a low US$1,800 to US$3,000 brought in an eye-opening US$23,800.
On 7-8 September, Acker, Merrall & Condit had a US$5,100,706 yield. A case of 1999 Romanée Conti, DRC brought US$78,650. Twelve bottles of Georges Roumier’s 1971 Musigny sold for US$66,550.
Hart Davis Hart generated US$3,850,015 in Chicago on 15 September. Twelve bottles of 1982 Le Pin fetched US$50,190.
NYWines/Christie’s sold US$2,107,320 worth of wine on 15 September. A case of 2000 Romanée-Conti, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, fetched US$60,000.
Morrell & Company hammered home US$1,710,858 on 8 September. Of 1,000 lots offered 983 were sold, and 532 of that group (54%), valued at US$811,450, were taken via the Internet, according to director Kimberly Janis.
In Chicago, Edward Roberts International made US$325,933 on 8 September. A case of half bottles of 1970 Pétrus sold for US$10,530.
Written by Howard G Goldberg in New York
