Burgundy favourite Romanee-Conti proved its perennial popularity at Bonhams yesterday (February 14) as three of its top vintages led bids.
 With the results of this sale and a major auction comng soon, Burgundy is off to a strong start in 2013 |
The top lot of the auction was three bottles of the 1990 vintage - a first-rate year for Burgundy - which achieved £27,600 ($47,753). Following closely at its heels was the equally illustrious 1999, a further three bottles of which sold for £25,300 ($39,194). Bringing up the rear was a trio from 1989, selling at £16,100 ($24,938).
The sale follows Christie's announcement that it will handle the sale of Henry Tang's wine collection, which is one of the largest and most important holdings of Burgundy in Asia.
With top sales like this already in 2013, Burgundy can expect to expand on the successes of 2012; wines from the region demonstrated a 34.5% increase in value over the last two years. Even the ailing Bordeaux market is anticipating a resurgence this year, after showing a 2.8% increase in value in January - the biggest gain in two years.
The Rhone Valley's Hermitage La Chapelle brought the fourth highest bids of the auction, with a 12-bottle case selling for £7,820 ($12,118).
Also starring was a bottle of 1952 Hine Grande Champagne Cognac, produced to mark Elizabeth II's silver jubilee. It was joined by a 1904 bottle to sell for £920 ($1,425) - an 84% increase on the £500 high estimate.
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