Two Bottles of Romanée Conti 1945 Both Break the World Auction Record for Any Bottle of Wine, Selling for $558,000 & $496,000

Three Bottles of Romanée Conti 1937 Establish a New World Auction Record for Any Magnum Bottle, Each Selling for $310,000

SOTHEBY'S WORLDWIDE WINE SALES REACH $88 MILLION TO-DATE IN 2018 * 77% INCREASE OVER 2017 *

‘White-Glove’ Auction of Rare Domaine de la Romanée-Conti from the Personal Cellar of Robert Drouhin Achieves $7.3 Million * More than 5 Times Its High Estimate *

The Macallan 1926 60 Years Old (Sir Peter Blake Label) Sells for $843,200

* The Highest Price for Any Spirit Sold at Auction in North America * &* The Highest Price for Any Wine or Spirit in Sotheby’s History *

NEW YORK, 15 October 2018 – This Saturday in New York, Sotheby’s October wine auctions concluded with a total of $12.3 million, with over 1,100 lots sold over the course of two days.

The outstanding selection of wines on offer was led by two exceptional bottles of Romanée Conti 1945, both of which shattered the previous world auction record for a single bottle of wine of any size when they sold to applause for $558,000 and $496,000, respectively.* The wines were offered as part of a 'white-glove' (100% sold) auction of rare Domaine de la Romanée-Conti emerging from the personal cellar of Robert Drouhin, which totaled $7.3 million – more than five times its high estimate.

In addition to the two record-breaking bottles of Romanée Conti 1945, Sotheby’s historic offering of rare DRC wines from Mr. Drouhin’s personal cellar saw three bottles that broke the previous auction record for any single magnum bottle, achieving prices over $300,000. Three magnum bottles of Romanée Conti 1937 each sold for $310,000 – more than seven times their respective high estimates of $40,000, and just short of the previous auction record for a single bottle of any size. La Tâche 1945 also commanded top prices, with three bottles each achieving $99,200, and another trio that brought $82,666 per bottle.

Moreover, the results from the Drouhin sale cemented numerous world auction records, with: the highest overage at 767% above the low estimate; the highest average lot value of $73,036; and the highest average per bottle price of $24,842.

Immediately following the conclusion of the Personal Cellar of Robert Drouhin, the second session of our Finest & Rarest Wines sale began with The Macallan 1926 60 Years Old (Sir Peter Blake Label), which sold for $843,200, becoming the most expensive spirit sold at auction in North America, and the highest price in Sotheby’s history for a single spirit.

Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Sotheby’s Wine, commented: “We are delighted with the outstanding results of our October wine sales in New York. For both wine and whisky, the incredible prices achieved this past weekend set the most important world records for both our global Wine team, and the entire auction market worldwide. Not only did we have the privilege of breaking our long-held world record for a single bottle of wine of any size twice in one sale, but we also had the pleasure of selling what have now become the most expensive magnum bottles of wine, the most expensive spirit purchased at auction in North America, and Sotheby’s top price for a single spirit. Coupled with success of our Hong Kong wine sales this September, the results of our October New York sales are evidence that the demand amongst global connoisseurs for the rarest bottles with exceptional provenance is at its highest point. It has been an honor to work alongside Robert Drouhin and his family, as well as The Macallan and we look forward to continuing this momentum as we head into our November and December auctions.”

Serena Sutcliffe MW, Honorary Chairman, Sotheby’s Wine, remarked: “It was a unique privilege to be entrusted with this spectacular sale, the summit of Burgundian excellence combined with immaculate provenance. These wines are now virtually unobtainable, rare as they were even decades ago, so those who bought them have vinous miracles in their possession and can enjoy them, perhaps thinking of those dedicated growers who made them in very different times.”

The ‘white-glove’ sale this October presented collectors with an unmatched opportunity to acquire legendary vintages of DRC, with only one family owner since being removed from the cellar of the world’s most celebrated producer. Comprised of just 100 lots, the impeccable collection emerged after more than 50 years in the family cellar of Robert Drouhin, who is internationally recognized as one of the wine industry’s most respected figures. The auction offered DRC vintages spanning from 1937 through to 1964, which were acquired by Mr. Drouhin and his father, Maurice, directly from the celebrated domaine, mostly during their time as the exclusive distributors of DRC in France and Belgium – a highly-covetable attribute that amplified the collection’s pristine provenance.

Our Finest & Rarest Wines auction was topped by The Macallan 1926 60 Years Old (Sir Peter Blake Label), which established the highest price for any spirit sold in North America when it achieved $843,200; the bottle also became the most expensive single spirit ever sold at Sotheby’s.

Coinciding with the sale of The Macallan 1926, Sotheby’s is delighted to present our first-ever online-only sale dedicated to whisky. Open for bidding now through tomorrow, 16 October, Macallan Online: A Pioneer’s Collection comprises rare and coveted bottlings, including an early ‘90s Armando Giovinetti Special Selection and The Macallan, Millennium (one of 900 bottles released).The Macallan 1926 60 Years Old (Sir Peter Blake Labe) was on offer from the same collection. Aged in a sherry cask for six decades, The Macallan 1926 represents the celebrated distillery’s oldest vintage, with only 40 bottles ever produced. Of the 40, 12 were labeled and signed with an exclusive design by British artist Sir Peter Blake, who is perhaps best-known for designing cover art for the likes of The Beatles, Eric Clapton, The Who, and Oasis, and 12 by Italian artist, Valerio Adami. The Sir Peter Blake Label bottle sold at Sotheby’s is numbered 9 of 12.