Personal Collection of Martine Saunier Once Again Exceeds Pre-Sale High Estimate By Over 50% as New York Market Flexes Its Muscles

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The final auction chapter of The Personal Collection of Martine Saunier closed in NYC Saturday afternoon with another 'Big Bang,' as collectors in New York proved just as thirsty as those in Hong Kong three weeks ago. Martine's collection again soared past its high estimate by over 50% as collectors bid aggressively for impeccable wines from this legendary importer. While Hong Kong and Asia accounted for 68% of Martine's collection in January in Hong Kong, New York and US buyers stormed back to seize 84% of this past weekend's Saunier dollars.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150223/177250

The salesroom was packed at Marea, resulting in a brisk and healthy $4.4 million in sales overall.  Live bidders over the internet were also as active as ever, accounting for 27% of all lots sold. It was a Henri Jayer and Burgundy dominated day. There were no shades of grey in the Top 25 Lots. Seventeen of those top 25 lots were Henri Jayer, and seven of the other eight were DRC and Rouget. The auction's top lot was the same as in Hong Kong, and even a bit more expensive. An original cardboard box of the 1999 Henri Jayer Vosne Romanee Cros Parantoux this time fetched $148,200.  Burgundy continued its dominance of the market, with 74 of the sale's 110 world records from the adored region. Thirty-five of those Burgundy records were for Leroy/D'Auvenay, Rouget and Henri Jayer. 

"It was exciting to see New York go toe to toe and blow for blow with Hong Kong and produce similar results, with many of the same wines getting even higher prices. Both markets have raced off to great starts here in 2015," observed Acker Merrall CEO, John Kapon. "Of course, given Martine's collection and historical significance, it should have come as no surprise!  It was a privilege for me to auction her collection, the last of the very, very best from this wonderful person. She even donated 25% of her proceeds from this sale to her favorite charity, Doctors Without Borders. Martine was both a trailblazing pioneer and ambassador extraordinaire for French wine here in America, so it is only fitting that her collection finish off here in New York City. And it is only fitting that it got finished off by Acker Merrall."

Acker's next two sales will be March 21 in Hong Kong, an extraordinary sale with over US $6 million on offer, and then March 28 in New York City, for which Acker is still accepting wines for the next 10 days.

Some Additional Highlights from the February 21, 2015 NYC Auction

Media Contact: Lambert Jemley, Email, 212-787-1700

SOURCE Acker Merrall & Condit