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In 2011 Christie’s International Wine Department reported a global total of $90.9 million /£56.5 million/€65 million. With an unrivalled network of international sale centres that spans across three continents since the recommencement of sales in Asia 2008, the 2011 figure is the highest total ever achieved for this category at Christie’s and represents an increase of more than 20% on the same period in 2010($: +28% / £: +23%).
Sixteen sales were held in Europe totaling $39 million/£24.2 million/ €27.8 million. The highest price achieved for a twelve bottle case of wine in London was a lot of Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 1990, which sold at King Street in December for £115,000. European auctions in 2011 saw the continued success of the Hospices de Beaune sale with Christie’s LIVE™ real-time internet bidding. This historic sale made $7,352,575/£4,635,202/€ 5,402,333, with the President’s barrel selling for an outstanding price of $149,710/£94,380/€110,000. Our sale in London on 24th March saw the world record for a Collection of sixty-two magnums of Château Mouton-Rothschild 1945-2005, sold for $251,660/£155,250/€178,538 this was the top lot sold in Europe in 2011.
Sales in Hong Kong have continued to be an extraordinary success in 2011, with revenue from our six wine sales totaling HK$308.4 million/$39.9 million/£24.8 million. On May 27th we hosted the record-breaking sale of wines direct from the cellars of Château Latour. This sale was an extraordinary success, and 100% sold, making HK$59,718,000/US$7,673,763/£4,675,919. The top lot was six magnums of Latour 1961 which sold for HK$ 1,800,000/US$231,300/£140,940. In September, a lot comprising three hundred bottles of Château Lafite-Rothschild Vintage 1981 to 2005 was sold in Hong Kong for HK$4,200,000/ $539,280 / £332,640 / €378,840. This was the highest value lot at any wine auction worldwide in 2011.
Christie’s Americas held six wine sales in 2011 totaling $12.1 million/ £7.5 million/€8.6million. The top lot of the year was sold in New York in May, where a complete Vertical of Mouton-Rothschild, 1945-2007 realized an impressive $150,000 / £92,222 / €105,042.
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Fine Wine and Vintage Port, Including Finest and Rarest Mosel Wines.