Start of the auction season in 2010: Fine & rare wines at Christie´s New York

Charles Curtis, MW, Head of North American Wines Sales at Christie’s, comments: “A major sale composed almost exclusively of great red wines has been an idea in the making since the market first began its bounce-back in January 2009. Top-quality first-growths, super seconds, and limited-production Burgundies are now the gold standard among investment-savvy collectors, with clients from around the globe competing in each of our wine sales. This sale promises to be an excellent start to the fall wine season in New York, with a superb selection of all of the greatest reds, in vintages mature and young, and in a variety of formats to suit every wine cellar.”

As with every wine auction Christie's has hosted since 2007, collectors from anywhere in the world can bid on any item in the upcoming sale in real time, via Christie's LIVETM online bidding platform. Bids will also be accepted by phone, by absentee bid, or in person in the saleroom. For registered bidders who attend the sale in person, Christie's is pleased to present a seasonal brunch buffet, complemented by a tasting of fine wines and Champagne.

Bordeaux Highlights: Among the top Bordeaux lots of the September 24 sale are large swaths of first-growths and super- seconds in all of the top vintages, and in many in their original wooden cases. Multiple pristine lots of 1982 Château Lafite-Rothschild – the most hotly-pursued wine of the moment at auction - are included in the sale, and estimated at up to US-Dollar 30,000 - 40,000 per case.

Additional Bordeaux highlights include:

• ‘61 Latour, 7 bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 12,000-18,000)
• ‘66 Lafite, 1 dozen bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 4,000-6,000)
• ‘82 Mouton-Rothschild, 1 dozen bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 10,000-15,000)
• ‘82 Haut-Brion, 1 dozen bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 5,000-7,000)
• ‘82 Leoville-Las Cases, 1 dozen bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 5,000-7,000)
• ‘89 Haut-Brion, 1 dozen bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 10,000-15,000)
• ‘90 Latour, 1 dozen bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 7,000-10,000)
• ’00 Mouton-Rothschild, 1 dozen bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 8,000-12,000)
• ’03 Pichon Longueville, Lalande, 1 dozen (estimate: US-Dollar 1,400-2,000)
• ’05 Chateau Margaux, 1 dozen bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 8,000-12,000)

Fine and Rare Burgundy: Among the sale’s top Burgundy lots is a rare cache of nine consecutively numbered bottles of 1978 La Tâche (estimate: US-Dollar 26,000 - 35,000) and six consecutively numbered bottles of 1979 Romanée-Conti (estimate: US-Dollar 24,000 - 35,000). In parallel to increasing demand for first-growth Bordeaux, prices for rare DRC wines are pushing ever-higher, spurred by increasing collector demand for these exceptional limited-production wines. Page 2 of 4

Additional Burgundy Highlights include: 

• ‘43 Bonnes-Mares, 3 bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 5,500-6,500)
• ‘66 La Tâche, 5 bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 5,000-7,500
• ’69 Romanée-Conti, 1 bottle per lot (estimate: US-Dollar 4,000-6,000)
• ‘76 La Tâche, 11 bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 7,000-9,000)
• ’76 Romanée-Conti, 1 magnum (estimate: US-Dollar 6,000-8,000)
• ’78 Richebourg, 3 bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 3,500-5,500)
• ‘90 Musigny Vielles Vignes, 1 dozen bottles (estimate: US-Dollar 4,500-5,500)
• ‘90 Romanée-Conti, 2 bottles per lot (estimate: US-Dollar 24,000-35,000).

Though the September 24 sale is primarily composed of reds, Christie’s wine specialists were sure to include a few favorite for collectors seeking to round out their cellars with the exceptional white wines. Two white Burgundy highlights include a 6-bottle lot of 1979 Montrachet (estimate: US-Dollar 15000 - 20,000), and an 8-bottle lot of 1991 Corton-Charlemagne by Coche-Dury (estimate:  US-Dollar 5,500 - 8,000).

One does not need to be live at the auctions - Christie offers the possibility in addition to bidding by phone also by online (Photo: Christie´s)

Christie’s, the world's leading art business had global auction and private sales in 2009 that totaled £2.1 billion/US-Dollar 3.3 billion. For the first half of 2010, art sales totalled £1.7 billion/US-Dollar 2.57 billion. Christie’s is a name and place that speaks of extraordinary art, unparalleled service and expertise, as well as international glamour. Founded in 1766 by James Christie, Christie's conducted the greatest auctions of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, and today remains a popular showcase for the unique and the beautiful.

Christie’s offers over 450 sales annually in over 80 categories, including all areas of fine and decorative arts, jewellery, photographs, collectibles, wine, and more. Prices range from 200 US-Dollar to over  80million. US-Dollar Christie’s has 53 offices in 32 countries and 10 salerooms around the world including in London, New York, Paris, Geneva, Milan, Amsterdam, Dubai and Hong Kong. More recently, Christie’s has led the market with expanded initiatives in emerging and new markets such as Russia, China, India and the United Arab Emirates, with successful sales and exhibitions in Beijing, Mumbai and Dubai. (red.yoopress)