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According to Sotheby's, the first part of Taiwanese billionaire Pierre Chen's collection in Hong Kong realised 16.8 million US dollars (15.3 million euros). A total of 25,000 bottles will be auctioned in four instalments. The first, entitled "The Epicurean's Atlas: The Encyclopaedic Cellar", was intended to showcase the breadth, quality and rarity of the collection, which is considered to be the most valuable in the world.
Some lots changed hands for record prices, such as ten bottles of Vosne Romanée Cros Parantoux 1999 Henri Jayer, which realised the highest price ever achieved at auction at 219,160 euros. Other top prices were achieved by twelve bottles of Chevalier Montrachet 2007 Domaine d'Auvenay at 219,091 euros and three magnum bottles of La Tâche 1971 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, which exceeded their maximum estimate at 146,061 euros and set a new auction record for this wine.
Other top lots included five magnum bottles of Faiveley Musigny from the 2015 to 2019 vintages from Chen's own vineyard in Burgundy, which together sold for 92,046 euros, as well as six bottles of Cheval Blanc 1947 for 44,109 euros.
Chen made his fortune with the production of digital components. His fortune is currently estimated at around five billion euros. He said that he wanted to "share his wines with the widest possible community of wine collectors and enthusiasts around the world". The other instalments of his collection are to be auctioned off in the course of 2024. The total proceeds are estimated at around 45.5 million euros.
(al / source: drinksbusiness)