Acker Merrall & Condit December Hong Kong Sale Totals HK$61,876,872/US$7,932,932

Acker Merrall Once Again Atop the Asian Market with Total YTD Sales of HK$366,666,332/US$47,008,504, 28% Ahead of Second Place

Superlot of DRC Assortment of Eight Vintages Realizes HK$2.75Million/US$353,231

Superlot of Ten Vintages of Screaming Eagle Magnums Sells for HK$885,600/US$113,538

The First-Ever Direct Consignment from Gaja Exceeds High Estimates

16 New World Records for Italian Wines Overall

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Acker Merrall & Condit, the world’s leading wine auctioneer and America’s oldest fine wine merchant, concluded another successful year in Asia with its Hong Kong sale held on 6-8 December 2012. Over 1,270 lots of some of the world’s most sought after wines on offer generated an impressive total of HK$61,876,872/US$7,932,932. The top lot of the sale was an exclusive DRC Assortment vertical collection of 8 vintages which fetched HK$2,755,200/US$353,231. 76 new world records were established including 16 for Italian wines.

John Kapon, CEO of Acker Merrall & Condit Companies, commented after the sale: “This has been an amazing week for Hong Kong wine lovers, and a great end to another special calendar year. Acker presented its first three-day auction, offering a most diversified selection of the finest wines from Italy, Burgundy and Bordeaux. While rare Burgundy and Bordeaux treasures still dominated the sale, the results for Italian wines were quite noteworthy, led by the direct consignment from its most important producer, Gaja. We are very proud to finish atop the Asian market yet again, 28% ahead of our next competitor. I am looking forward to another superb year for Acker in Hong Kong.”

The top lot of the sale was a DRC Assortment Vertical of 8 great vintages (’97, ’98, ’99, ’00, ’01, ’04, ’05 and ’06) which sold for a staggering price of HK$2,755,200/US$353,231 (Lot 1075, illustrated right). Other Superlots also achieved exceptional prices included a vertical consisting 10 Magnums of Screaming Eagle from 1992 to 2002 realized HK$885,600/US$113,538 (Lot 467) and 22 bottles of DRC’s Richebourg from 1988 to 2009 (HK$295,200/US$37,846, Lot 1068).

GREAT WINES OF ITALY - LED BY THE HISTORICAL DIRECT CONSIGNMENT FROM GAJA

The incredible and extensive selection of Italian great wines, highlighted by the precious and historical direct auction offering from Gaja attracted a high level of interest from collectors. Gaia Gaja, the estate’s co-owner, attended the special Thursday night auction session. The Gaja lots sold for prices surpassing their high estimates in total. Rare offerings from this fabulous consignment included a 24-bottle vertical of Sori San Lorenzo Barbaresco (HK$98,400/US$12,615, Lot 7), a lot containing six bottles, one magnum, one double magnum, and one five-liter bottle of the legendary 1997 Barolo Sperss (HK$93,480/US$11,985, Lot 4, illustrated left) and a 12-bottle vertical of Gaja Barbaresco (HK$83,640/US$10,723, Lot 8).

A unique offering of wines dedicated to the “Great Wines of Italy” event hosted by James Suckling were also featured. Significant lots of this section included:

• The Great Wines of Italy Superlot comprising 236 rare bottles from different wineries (HK$68,880/US$8,831, Lot 1108)
• Six bottles, one magnum and one double magnum of 1997 Solaia from Antinori (HK$36,900/US$4,731, Lot 1077)
• 24 bottles of 2001 Pianrosso Riserva Brunello from From Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona (HK$31,980/US$4,100, Lot 1084)

BURGUNDY HIGHLIGHTS

The prestigious Burgundy fine wines on offer drew highly competitive bidding. The star of this section was again a case of 1988 Romanée Conti in banded owc, selling at HK$885,600/US$113,538 (Lot 1053). Another exceptional offering of three magnums of 1978 H. Jayer Vosne Romanée Cros Parantoux fetched HK$344,400/US$44,154 (Lot 1060).

Other notable lots included:

• 6 bottles of 2002 Romanée Conti in owc (HK$442,800/US$56,769, Lot 602, illustrated right)
• A case of 1990 DRC Assortment in owc (HK$344,400/US$44,154, Lot 593)
• A five-case parcel of 1962 Leroy La Romanée in owc (HK$270,600/US$34,692 per lot, Lot 474-478).

BORDEAUX HIGHLIGHTS

The sale featured a dazzling array of Bordeaux treasures including a Château Haut Brion vertical of 55 vintages from 1945 to 2009 (HK$381,300/US$48,885, Lot 1057, illustrated right) and a Château Yquem vertical of 47 vintages from 1945 to 2007 (HK$344,400/US$44,154, Lot 1059).

Gems from Pétrus were keenly sought after in the sale highlighted by 12 bottles of 1989 in owc that achieved HK$295,200/US$37,846 (Lot 1048) and 12 bottles of 2009 in banded owc which sold for HK$270,600/US$34,692 (Lot 312).

Acker Merrall & Condit Asia Headquarters

1902B, 19/F, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham Street, Central, Hong Kong |+852.2525.0538 | [e-mail] | www.ackerasia.com

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.