Hart Davis Hart Wine Auction is 100% Sold, Sale Totals Reach $6.4 Million

By Chilled Magazine

Wine prices were high at Hart Davis Hart’s massive two-day auction this weekend in Chicago. Sale totals reached $6,420,962, surpassing a pre-sale auction estimate of $4,299,500-$6,415,440. Collections of Burgundy, Bordeaux, and California wines brought intense bidding and many lots soared above the high estimate. The HDH Index rose 5.4%, the highest spike in the index in two and a half years.

Exceptional offerings of carefully vetted mature rarities drew huge interest across both days, breaking several records. A five bottle lot of 1966 Musigny, Vieilles Vignes Comte Georges de Vogüé achieved an astounding $15,535 against a pre-sale estimate of $4,200-6,500, double the high end estimate, smashing all previous records for this wine. A twelve bottle lot of 1961 Château Magdelaine realized $11,950 against an estimate of $3,500-5,500, establishing another new world record. Other top lots included a case of 1990 La Tâche Domaine de la Romanée-Conti selling for $59,750 (est. $35,000-$55,000), a twelve bottle assortment of 1978 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti selling for $53,775 (est. $30,000-$45,000) and a case of 1990 Château Pétrus achieving $45,410 (est.$26,000-$38,000).

“Bidding was particularly strong for classified Bordeaux as well as mature wines from Burgundy and California” noted CEO, Paul Hart. “Global demand remains high for fine & rare wines with excellent provenance.”

Saleroom attendance was strong both days with a near capacity crowd during the Saturday session. Bidders in the room actively competed with those bidding over the internet and by phone from 36 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, as well as Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Macao, Mexico, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand and the United Kingdom.

Hart Davis Hart’s next auction on June 29th will feature direct offerings from the Cellars of Château La Mission Haut-Brion and Dom Pérignon.

Top Lots by Price (inclusive of 19.5% buyer’s premium):

Lot 1331: 1990 La Tâche, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (12 bs) (est. $35,000-55,000) $59,750
Lot 1134: 1978 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Assortment (12 bs) (est. $30,000-45,000) $53,775
Lot 909: 1990 Château Pétrus (12 bs) (est. $26,000-38,000) $45,410
Lot 1154: 1985 Clos de la Roche, Vieilles Vignes, Domaine Ponsot (12 bs) (est. $26,000-38,000) $38,240
Lot 238: 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild (12 bs) (est. $24,000-35,000) $35,850
Lot 1133: 1971 La Tâche, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (6 bs) (est. $16,000-24,000) $31,070
Lot 321: 2009 Château Pétrus (6 bs) (est. $17,000-26,000) $28,680
Lot 1143: 2007 Romanée-Conti, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (3 bs) (est. $20,000-30,000) $28,680
Lot 902: 1982 Château Pétrus (9 bs) (est. $22,000-32,000) $26,290
Lot 1132: 1966 Richebourg, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (12 bs) (est. $20,000-30,000) $26,290