Acker Merrall & Condit September Hong Kong Sale Features the Legendary Champagne Collection of Robert Rosania, the World's Greatest Champagne Collector

Over 350 bottles of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Also On Offer

HONG KONG--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acker Merrall & Condit, the world's leading wine auctioneer and America's oldest fine wine merchant, will hold its next Hong Kong sale on 21 & 22 September at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. The sale presents a wonderful selection of over 1,000 lots fine wines led by the Premier Champagne Collection of Robert Rosania. The auction is expected to realize in excess of HK$50 million.

“a masterly wine to follow for many decades in the future”

John Kapon, CEO of Acker Merrall & Condit Companies, said, “It is our privilege to present the massive and incomparable collection of Robert Rosania, the world’s greatest Champagne collector. Champagne is one of the world’s greatest wines, and has become increasingly collectible in the global market, particularly the rarities and great producers that Rob has collected. This sale presents a rare opportunity to see such a complete Champagne collection containing jewels from famous and legendary Champagne houses. To celebrate this amazing sale, Richard Juhlin, the world’s leading Champagne expert and author will be joining us in Hong Kong. This is an exciting way to start another great Fall season.”

AN EXCEPTIONAL OFFERING OF VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE FROM ROBERT ROSANIA

Robert Rosania is often referred to as the greatest collector of Champagne in the world. This fabulous collection is divided into four sections over two days, each containing vinous treasures from the top Champagne houses including Bollinger, Dom Perignon, Krug, Louis Roederer, Perrier-Jouët, Pol Roger, Pommery, Philipponnat, Salon, Mumm and Taittinger.

This historical Champagne consignment begins with two most famous producers, Dom Perignon and Roederer. Highlights of this section include an ancient bottle of 1911 Moet & Chandon (Estimate: HK$64,000-96,000/US$8,000-12,000, Lot 93) and rare magnums of 1964 and 1969 Roederer Cristal (Estimate: HK$28,000-40,000/US$3,500-5,000 and HK$16,000-24,000/US$2,000-3,000, Lot 109 & 110).

Equally captivating is an incredible mix of multiple producers, bottlings and vintages on offer. Taking center-stage is an exceedingly rare magnum of 1975 Deutz Vinotheque (Estimate: HK$160,000-240,000/US$20,000-30,000, Lot 374, illustrated left). It has been hailed by Richard Juhlin as “a masterly wine to follow for many decades in the future” and is one of the most expensive Champagnes in the world today. Juhlin writes that “Only 200 magnums were made from the best plot in Aÿ. In 1975 the quality was so exceptional that the wine maker could not resist making these rare magnums and at the same time perhaps created the best blanc de noirs of all time. 99 points.” This is an exceedingly rare and special wine.

Collectors will be delighted to find a dazzling selection of wines from Pommery, Salon and Taittinger in the third section. Highlights include 6 bottles of the famous 1959 Salon (Estimate: HK$144,000-200,000/US$18,000-24,000, Lot 672) and 12 bottles of 1929 Pommery from the famous Doris Duke collection (Estimate: HK$80,000-120,000/US$10,000-15,000, Lot 663).

Krug, highly regarded as one of the greatest producers of Champagne for decades, is featured prominently in the last section of this enormous consignment. Vintage Krug is only bottled in vintages that are deemed by the House to be worthy. The draconian selection of grapes and growers that goes into making all Krug Champagnes is legendary. A single bottle of the very rare, extraordinary 1966 Blanc de Blancs (Estimate: HK$96,000-144,000/US$12,000-18,000, Lot 869) leads off this section. This is the only vintage ever made of this wine, which many have hailed as the precursor to the great single-vineyard Champagne, Clos du Mesnil. Speaking of which, there are 12 bottles of 1982 Clos du Mesnil in original cases (Estimate: HK$96,000-128,000/US$12,000-16,000, Lot 871) and also 12 bottles of 1988 Clos du Mesnil (Estimate: HK$96,000-128,000/US$12,000-16,000, Lot 872). Scarcities from Krug in vintages such as 1947, 1952, 1955, 1959, 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1971 are also on offer, amongst much more.

TOP BURGUNDY AND BORDEAUX LOTS

Jewels of Burgundy and Bordeaux dominate the top lot list in the sale, led by two super verticals carefully assembled by a European collector: an astounding 67 bottle collection of Mouton Rothschild (Estimate: HK$360,000-480,000/US$45,000-60,000, Lot 818) and 56 bottle vertical of Latour (Estimate: HK$280,000-400,000/US$35,000-50,000, Lot 817), both dating back to 1945.

Other notable Bordeaux lots include 12 bottles of the legendary 1982 Petrus (Estimate: HK$320,000-480,000/US$40,000-60,000, Lot 821) and 12 bottles of 2005 Petrus in original wooden case (Estimate: HK$280,000-380,000/US$35,000-48,000, Lot 801, illustrated right).

Among the Burgundy rarities are 3 bottles of 2009 Romanee Conti (Estimate: HK$260,000-340,000/US$32,000-42,000, Lot 1002) and 12 bottles of 2005 La Tâche (Estimate: HK$280,000-380,000/US$35,000-48,000, Lot 988), both in their banded original wooden cases.

THE INCREDIBLE COLLECTION OF A PASSIONATE AND KNOWLEDGEABLE CONNOISSEUR

Three featured collections of superlative Burgundy and Bordeaux are presented in the September sale. The first of these comes from a true wine lover who has purchased largely from single-cellar auctions and has stored his wines with meticulous care (Lot 193-322). The star lot of this incredible collection is an exceptional 12-bottle case of 1990 La Tâche (Estimate: HK$320,000-480,000/US$40,000-60,000, Lot 294). Other prized offerings include 12 bottles of 1982 Lafite in owc (Estimate: HK$240,000-320,000/US$30,000-40,000, Lot 241, illustrated left), a two-case parcel of 1990 Petrus (Estimate: HK$240,000-320,000/US$30,000-40,000 per lot, Lot 279-280) and 10 bottles of 1989 Petrus (Estimate: HK$200,000-280,000/US$26,000-35,000, Lot 278).

Of particular note are two extraordinary parcels purchased directly from the cellars of the Châteaux: 5 cases of 1989 Haut Brion (Estimate: HK$96,000-128,000/US$12,000-16,000 per lot, Lot 211-215) and 10 cases of 1989 La Mission (Estimate: HK$64,000-96,000/US$8,000-12,000 per lot, Lot 229-238).

A SUPERB CANADIAN COLLECTION

The second featured collection comes from one of Canada’s most esteemed collectors, featuring both ancient and modern treasures from Bordeaux and Burgundy with many in large formats (Lot 487-653). The legendary 1982 Lafite vintage are represented by a 12-bottle original wooden case (Estimate: HK$240,000-320,000/US$30,000-40,000, Lot 538) and an impressive imperial (Estimate: HK$160,000-240,000/US$20,000-30,000, Lot 539). Also on offer are 12 bottles of 1989 Petrus in owc (Estimate: HK$240,000-320,000/US$30,000-40,000, Lot 610) and another two-case parcel of 1990 Petrus in owc (Estimate: HK$240,000-320,000/US$30,000-40,000 per lot, Lot 619-620, illustrated right).

GEMS OF DOMAINE DE LA ROMANEE CONTI

Burgundy enthusiasts will be excited to find an outstanding range of recent vintages of Domaine de la Romanee Conti in this collection (Lot 720-776). Every wine of DRC is represented including a fantastic selection of recently released 2009’s. The collection boasts an excellent selection of La Tâche, highlighted by 6 bottles of 2005 in banded owc (Estimate: HK$144,000-200,000/US$18,000-24,000, Lot 738). DRC top lots include a parcel of 3-bottle 2009 Romanee Conti (Estimate: HK$260,000-340,000/US$32,000-42,000 per lot, Lot 757-758), 3 bottles of 2007 Romanee Conti (Estimate: HK$200,000-280,000/US$24,000-35,000, Lot 755) and another 3 bottles of the vintage 2008 (Estimate: HK$200,000-280,000/US$24,000-35,000, Lot 756), all in owc. The highlight in the white burgundy section is a 3-bottle parcel case of 2009 Montrachet in banded owc (Estimate: HK$72,000-96,000/US$9,000-12,000, Lot 774-776).

Acker Merrall & Condit Asia Headquarters

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About Acker Merrall & Condit

Founded in 1820, Acker Merrall & Condit is America’s oldest fine wine merchant and the world’s largest wine auction house. With affiliates in New York, Chicago and Hong Kong, the companies hold more than fifteen auctions a year, including Internet auctions. They are devoted to helping their customers buy and sell the best wines, and also to sharing with them the experience of enjoying wine. In recent years, the company has greatly expanded its services to education, tastings and the formation of wine clubs. Starting out as a family business, three generations of the Kapon family have been dedicated to bringing the best from the vine to their customers.