PRESS RELEASE | HONG KONG | 15 MAY 2014 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CHRISTIE’S HONG KONG PRESENTS

FINE AND RARE WINES SPRING AUCTIONS 2014

Hong Kong – Christie's Hong Kong is presenting a two-day auction of Fine and Rare Wines on 24^th and 25^th May 2014. Comprising over 900 lots valued in excess of HK$64 million / US$8 million, the auction presents a stellar array of wines with perfect provenance. The sale comprises exceptional wines from a variety of private collections, including Jean-Claude Biver, who was the owner of Swiss luxury watch brand Blancpain, Sir Alex Ferguson CBE, the most successful manager in British football history and more.

Also on offer is a selection of Spain’s legendary Vega Sicilia Unico, exceptional Burgundy from Nicolas Potel and Maison Roche de Bellene, as well as an impressive collection of multiple cases of the exceedingly rare Pétrus. 

FINE AND RARE WINES FROM THE COLLECTION OF SIR ALEX FERGUSON CBE

Christie’s is proud to have been entrusted with selling part of the impressive wine collection of Sir Alex Ferguson CBE. The collection includes a remarkable range of fine and rare wines featuring Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Burgundies and many Finest First Growth Bordeaux ranging from the 1986 to 2011 vintages.

Fine & Rare Wines from The Collection of Sir Alex Ferguson CBE will be offered over three auctions and the Hong Kong part will take place on 24^th May (Illustrated left, please click here for the press release about this collection). 

FINE AND RARE WINES FROM THE COLLECTION OF JEAN-CLAUDE BIVER

On 25^th May, we will be offering an exceptional collection of wines from Jean-Claude Biver. Jean-Claude Biver is famous following his involvement with Blancpain and Hublot in the luxury watch industry. Highlights in the collection include the legendary 1811 and 1865 Château d’Yquem (Illustrated right), Château Haut-Brion 1945, Cheval Blanc 1947 and multiple cases of the outstanding 2000 vintage from Châteaux Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild, Margaux and Haut-Brion.

‘Some years ago, when I was still the owner of Blancpain, I used to say a high quality Swiss mechanical watch is nothing else than “eternity in a box”. One could say the same more or less about the best wines in the world. They are eternity in a bottle. And whoever will have the privilege to drink an Yquem from 1811 to 1865 will understand and remember this statement. Like a watch, great wine keep time,’ said Jean-Claude Biver.

LEGENDARY VEGA SICILIA UNICO

In a ranking of the world’s leading top quality wines, Vega Sicilia would be listed in the top 20. This unique estate has been known for producing great wines ever since their first release in 1915. Vega Sicilia has been famous for over 100 years; though only from the early 1980’s have the wines been widely distributed.

A selection of Spain’s legendary Vega Sicilia Unico including very rare 1921 and 1922 vintages (Illustrated left) that were reconditioned at Bodegas Vega Sicilia in February 2013 will be offered in this spring auction. Vega Sicilia offered to buy back a large part of these reconditioned wines for their own library as even for them these vintages are extremely rare. This also confirms the high quality level of these bottles.

The collection will be divided between New York and Hong Kong as we will also be offering other wines from the same collection on 16 May in New York, including a rare vertical.

EXCEPTIONAL BURGUNDY AND A VARIETY OF PRIVATE COLLECTIONS

Another collection features exceptional Burgundy from regarded vigneron, Nicolas Potel, and Maison Roche de Bellene. Maison Roche de Bellene was started by Potel in 2008. It was that year he parted ways from his previous business – traveling from Nuits-Saint-Georges to Beaune, which resulted in a change in locale – Bellene being the city name of Beaune during the Middle Ages. At his new home, Potel improved the facilities for vineyards, leading to a strict selection of mature Burgundy with unimpeachable provenance.

Highlights include Grand Cru white Burgundy from the following vineyards; Montrachet (Illustrated left, the right bottle), Bâtard-Montrachet,  Bienvenue-Bâtard-Montrachet & Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet and Grand Cru red Burgundy from Bonnes-Mares, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, Charmes-Chambertin, Clos de La Roche, Clos Saint-Denis, Grands Echézeaux (Illustrated left, the left bottle), Griotte-Chambertin and Latricières-Chambertin.

The sale is further highlighted by exceptional wines from a variety of private collections. Highlights include an impressive collection of multiple cases of the exceedingly rare Pétrus 1970, 1982, 1989 and 1990 from an Asian-based consignor (Illustrated right).

CHRISTIE’S HONG KONG FINE AND RARE WINES SPRING AUCTIONS 2014

Venue: Convention Hall, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, 1 Harbour Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong

PRESS CONTACT: Simone Woo | Hong Kong | +852 2978 9966 | swoo@christies.com

Please click here to download the images.