Storming Success for La Mission in NYC
Rupert Millar / October 20, 2016
An ex-cellar sale of Château La Mission Haut-Brion in New York has realised almost US$1.4 million with over $40,000 raised for charity.
Held by Sotheby’s on 19 October the sale featured rare lots direct from the cellar of La Mission and raised $1,369,345 in total with over 70% of lots exceeding their high estimate.
The evening’s best-selling lot was a special lot offering dinner at Domaine Dillon’s Paris restaurant ‘Le Clarence’ and a private visit and lunch at La Mission for six people, which was sold to a Latin American client for $51,450 (high estimate $20,000).
Jamie Ritchie, worldwide head of Sotheby’s Wine, commented: “North and South American buyers showed their appreciation and enjoyment for the wines from Château La Mission Haut-Brion by showing-up in force. Their aggressive bidding saw them acquire 90% of the sale, over 70% of which exceeded the high estimate, with collectors from the United States, Canada, Brazil and Mexico buying nine of the top 10 lots. The strong result of this special single-owner evening sale is recognition of the reputation of La Mission Haut-Brion and the quality of its wines.”
Prince Robert of Luxembourg, president and CEO Domaine Clarence Dillon, added: “We are thrilled to have raised a terrific amount of funds for such a great cause, Getting Out and Staying Out (GOSO). This New York charity does a wonderful job with the city’s young people. They successfully and significantly reduce recidivism by preparing men for life after incarceration or by intervening early with young individuals in the criminal justice system.
“La Mission Haut-Brion has always enjoyed a very special following here in the United States. With this resounding success tonight, it further cements this estate’s status and reputation as ‘the sixth first growth’.”
Other notable highlights of the sale included a 12 bottle ‘vertical’ which sold for $46,550; a slightly larger 32-bottle vertical which went for $39,200 and a vertical of 26 magnums which raised $36,750.
Three bottles of 1961 made $31,850 and six-bottle cases of the 1989 were going for $15,925 – well above their $9,000 high estimate.