Stellar Wines, Strong Prices At Acker Merrall's November NYC Auction

The world's finest wines rock 76 new world records, including 21 for Champagne amongst nearly $4 million sold

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Nov 24, 2014, 09:06 ET

NEW YORK, Nov. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A roll call of the world's greatest Chateaux and Domaines drove strong prices throughout the night at the "Happy Birthday JK" auction held by Acker Merrall last night in NYC. Stars of the night were everywhere, from rare Burgundy lots of DRC, Vogue, Rousseau, Henri Jayer and Roumier; a superb collection of Champagne setting world record after world record for Cristal, Dom Perignon and Krug; OWCs of Petrus, Latour, Haut Brion, Mouton and other Bordeaux continuing some new found momentum; Giacomo Conterno and Giacosa leading Italy's charge once again; and new school and old school California wines sizzling thanks to classic names such as Mayacamas, Heitz Martha's and cults such as Harlan Estate and Sine Qua Non. A great night and celebration drove nearly $4 million in results.

The auction's Top Lot was an OWC of 1985 DRC Richebourg at $34,580, followed by a superb original case of rare 1964 Vogue Musigny that sold for $32,110 and three outstanding bottles of famed 1961 Jaboulet La Chapelle that were also bought for $32,110. Thanks to the evening's Featured Collection, one of the greatest collections of Champagne to come to auction in years, multiple lots of Roederer Cristal, Krug, Dom Perignon, Salon, Tattinger and others well exceeded pre-auction high estimates, a testament to the quality and depth of this collection. All helped Champagne set twenty-one new world records, and Burgundy set twenty-nine new world records led by superstars such as Rousseau, Dujac, Roumier and Coche Dury. It was crystal clear that demand remains strong globally.

"Best NYC auction of 2014? The results and the world records sure seem to suggest that," noted Acker Merrall & Condit's CEO, John Kapon. "We started early and stayed late and wow, what an auction! Last night emphasized yet again how diverse and global this business and wine collecting has become. For the first time that I can remember, South America outperformed Asia in a New York auction, indicating some emerging global trends, with both markets combining for approximately 25% of the sale. Our October NYC auction was led by an incredible collection of Spanish wines from 'The Conquistador' that set world record after world record, and on November 20^th, it was Champagne's well-deserved turn to be the star of the night. What was most impressive about the sale was the overall range of its strength. Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, California, Rhone, Italy, Spain...every region generated its own heat, and a lot of it. Even Germany set six new World Records, an indicator of the breadth of strength. This has set the stage nicely for our last sale of the year in Hong Kong on December 13^th, which will have our 'Featured Collection of the Year,' an incredible assortment of world class wines that by itself is over $2 million in value."