To meet the increasing global demand for high-quality and rare wines, Christie’s Wine & Spirits Department is organizing a series of auctions in Hong Kong and London this fall. One of the highlights is “The Dr A Botenga Cellar: Six Decades of Collecting” which showcases a remarkable wine collection accumulated by a passionate and knowledgeable collector. The collection will be presented in two live sales, with the first taking place in Hong Kong on November 24 and the second in London on December 1.
“The Dr A Botenga Cellar: Six Decades of Collecting Part I” is an exceptional wine collection consisting of over 750 lots, with a total estimated value exceeding HK$30,000,000 / US$3,853,000. Dr Botenga’s lifelong passion for wine led to this remarkable collection of top vintages – not only through extensive study, research, and personal meetings with producers, but also meticulously selecting and tasting many of the 20th century’s landmark wines.
The auction will primarily feature mature legendary vintages from the 1940s to the 1980s, with a focus on First Growth Bordeaux wines, which were the collector’s main interest. Some highlights of the collection include rare bottles of Lafite, Latour, Margaux, and Mouton from vintages such as 1945, 1947, and 1961.
Elevate your wine collecting experience at Christie’s. Join us live in Hong Kong or bid online for convenience (early registration recommended).
Château Lafite-Rothschild 1947
2 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$24,000 – 35,000 / US$3,100 – 4,500
Château Lafite-Rothschild 1949
2 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$24,000 – 35,000 / US$3,100 – 4,500
Château Lafite-Rothschild 1961
2 magnums per lot
Estimate: HK$50,000 – 70,000 / US$6,500 – 9,000
Château Latour 1959
5 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$85,000 – 120,000 / US$11,000 – 15,500
Château Latour 1961
6 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$200,000 – 300,000 / US$25,700 – 38,600
Château Latour 1961
12 half-bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$200,000 – 300,000 / US$25,700 – 38,600
Mixed Château Margaux 1920 – 1940s
4 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$40,000 – 50,000 / US$5,200 – 6,500
Mixed Château Margaux 1953
4 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$45,000 – 60,000 / US$5,800 – 7,800
Furthermore, there is also a vertical collection of Mouton wines spanning from 1945 to 1995, as well as a highly sought-after Haut-Brion 1926 bottle and magnum that was acquired from a previous Christie’s auction in 1979, featuring the collection of the late Clarence Dillon, owner of Château Haut-Brion. Additionally, the auction includes esteemed classed growths from old vintages, such as Cos d’Estournel 1947 and 1961, Gruaud Larose 1921 in magnum, and wines from Léoville Las Cases, Montrose, and Pichon Baron from the 1961 vintage. The collection also showcases iconic right-bank wines like Petrus, predominantly sourced from the 1940s to the 1980s, including vintages such as 1945, 1959, 1961, and 1982, available in standard bottle and imperial sizes. Within the collection, there will be a remarkable ensemble of 175 lots comprising red Burgundy from esteemed producers such as DRC, Henri Jayer, Drouhin, de Vogüé, and Rousseau, as well as white Burgundy from Leflaive and Ramonet. Adding further depth and allure to the sale, a notable selection of outstanding Champagne, Rhône, Port, and Australia’s Penfolds Grange will also be presented.
Petrus 1982
12 bottles per lot
Estimate: HK$300,000 – 420,000 / US$38,600 – 54,000
Petrus 1982
1 x 6L per lot
Estimate: HK$420,000 – 600,000 / US$54,000 – 77,100
Like the Hong Kong sale, “The Dr A Botenga Cellar: Six Decades of Collecting Part II,” will be offered at Christie’s King Street on 1 December. The London sale has a low estimate of £1,800,000 and includes arguably the greatest offering of mature Bordeaux presented in London this decade.
This collection includes all the prestigious First Growth Châteaux, spanning vintages from 1914 to the present, with a special focus on highly sought-after vintages from both pre and post-War years, and a notable selection of rare wines available in various bottle sizes, including Lafite-Rothschild 1945 in half bottles and Latour 1961 in magnum and bottle formats. Additionally, there is an extensive and diverse collection of Petrus wines from the 1960s to the late 1980s, offered in different formats.
The Dr A Botenga Cellar: Six Decades of Collecting Part II
Château Latour 1961
12 bottles per lot
Estimate: £42,000 – 55,000 / HK$400,000 – 520,000
Château Mouton-Rothschild 1959
11 bottles per lot
Estimate: £28,000 – 38,000 / HK$265,000 – 360,000
Mixed Gruaud-Larose 1918-1959
7 bottles per lot
Estimate: £2,400 – 3,200 / HK$23,000 – 30,000
Château Palmer 1959
12 bottles per lot
Estimate: £20,000 – 30,000 / HK$190,000 – 285,000
Vieux-Château-Certan 1952
7 bottles per lot
Estimate: £2,200 – 3,000 / HK$20,000 – 28,000
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Grands-Echézeaux 1969 Grand Cru
6 bottles per lot
Estimate: £8,000 – 11,000 / HK$75,000 – 105,000
Alongside the collection of Dr A Botenga, Christie’s Hong Kong Autumn Auctions will also feature Finest & Rarest Wines: “Three Stunning Cellars” live sale on 25 November. Three online-only sales will also run concurrently from 17 November to 14 December, titled “Fine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online: Festive Edition”, “Fine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online: Featuring Rarities from the cellar of a British Writer” and “A Pristine Contemporary Cellar: Online”.
These outstanding sales feature a diverse range of wines and spirits at attractive price points, catering to both seasoned collectors and new enthusiasts.
Auctions:
Location: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, No. 1 Harbour Road, Hong Kong
24 November | Live Auction | The Dr A. Botenga Cellar: Six Decades Of Collecting Part I
25 November | Live Auction | Finest & Rarest Wines
Location: 8 King Street, St. James’s London, UK
1 December I Live Auction I The Dr A. Botenga Cellar: Six Decades of collecting part II
