HONG KONG.- Acker Merrall & Condit, the world's leading wine auctioneer and America's oldest fine wine merchant, is pleased to announce its next Hong Kong sale to be held on 17th & 18th January 2014 at Island Shangri-La and Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. Estimated at HK$40 million/US$5 million, about 950 lots will be offered featuring top Burgundy, outstanding Bordeaux in owc as well as an amazing charity section of magnums donated exclusively by the greatest Domaines in Burgundy.

John Kapon, CEO of Acker Merrall & Condit, said: “We are delighted that we finished 2013 yet again as the #1 global wine auction house and #1 in Hong Kong as well. Our first sale of 2014 will welcome the Year of the Horse that follows with a focus on the world’s hottest wine region, Burgundy, thanks to two remarkable Burgundy collections from two cellars I know very well. I cannot think of a more exciting or more impressive start to our 2014 auction season. Add some amazing cases of Bordeaux in owc, and this is sure to be a great two days. We are also immensely honored to include in the sale a special and important charity section offering 158 magnums specifically donated from the greatest Domaines in Burgundy, a great cause as you’ll see in the catalog, a cause initiated by our dear friend Louis-Michel Liger-Belair.”

SPECIAL CHARITY SECTION OF BURGUNDY MAGNUMS (Lots 717-728)

A total of 158 Magnums from the great domaines in Burgundy will be offered led by generous donations from Domaine de Comte Liger-Belair, Domaine de la Romanée Conti, Domaine Dujac, Domaine Meo- Camuzet, Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue, Domaine Faiveley, Domaine Groffier, Maison Louis Jadot, Maison Joseph Drouhin, Clos du Tart, Clos des Lambrays, Domaine Fourrier and Domaine Anne Gros. This is an extraordinary and once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bid on such an array of all magnums from these great Domaines. The magnums are all in custom made wooden cases for this charity sale.

All the proceeds, including Acker’s full buyer’s premium, will go directly to the Charity “A Hope for Lucas and Luna.” Luna (aged 7) and Lucas (aged 5) from a Burgundy family are both suffering from an ultra-rare blood disease Fanconi Anemia, and this charity auction will help the family in their plight and hour of need.

“AS GOOD AS IT GETS” – A COLLECTION OF BURGUNDY GEMS (Lots 514-716)

This magnificent collection comes from a world class collector who has accumulated over 50,000 bottles during the past two decades. A special selection of 200 lots from this collection will be offered showcasing all the greatest names of Burgundy. There are many lots of Rousseau, DRC, Leroy, Vogue, Roumier, Dujac, Drouhin, Meo, Mugnier, Ponsot, Lignier, Dugat, Dugat-Py, Denis Bachelet, Roty, Mongeard-Mugneret, Angerville, Jadot, Leflaive, Lafon, Ramonet plus extraordinary Bordeaux and Guigal in OWCs. DRC always leads the way with Assortments in banded owc: a case of 1995 Assortment (Estimate: HK$200,000-280,000/US$26,000-35,000, Lot 578) and a case of 1997 Assortment (Estimate: HK$200,000-260,000/US$24,000-32,000, Lot 579). Of note too are great vintages of La Tache, Romanee-St.-Vivant plus 12 bottles of 1996 Grands Échézeaux in banded owc (Estimate: HK$80,000-112,000/US$10,000-14,000, Lot 583).

There are an astounding 29 lots from Leroy and 23 from Rousseau! Also of note 12 bottles of 2005 Comte de Vogue Musigny (Estimate: HK$96,000-120,000/US$12,000-15,000, Lot 573) and fourteen lots of Dujac including eight vintages of Clos de la Roche back to 1982, featuring a towering methuselah of 1996 (Estimate: HK$48,000-64,000/US$6,000-8,000, Lot 594).

The Collection also presents top white burgundies from Leflaive, Lafon, Ramonet, Sauzet and Jadot, crested by many vintages of Montrachet and Grand Crus from Leflaive, Ramonet, Jadot and Sauzet.

“THE EXECUTIVE CELLAR” (Lots 733-887)

This world class collection comes from an executive who has been collecting wines for over three decades, and like the “As Good As It Gets” collection contains extraordinary, rare wines. He has built many great relationships all across the wine world and purchased most wines from a handful of merchants, usually upon release, as well as many directly from the wineries. This consignment focuses on Bordeaux and Burgundy, fanning out to cover Rhone, Champagne, Italy, California and Australia.

Among the spectacular DRC lots are 2 bottles of the highly coveted 1990 Romanée Conti (Estimate: HK$200,000-260,000/US$24,000-32,000, Lot 766), 2 bottles of 1995 Romanée Conti (Estimate: HK$128,000-180,000/US$16,000-22,000, Lot 767) and 6 bottles of 1990 Richebourg (Estimate: HK$96,000-144,000/US$12,000-18,000, Lot 764).

La Tâche highlights include an extraordinary lot of 6 magnums of 1985 in owc (Estimate: HK$320,000-480,000/US$40,000-60,000, Lot 757), 6 bottles of 1990 (Estimate: HK$160,000-220,000/US$20,000-28,000, Lot 758) and 1 magnum of 1990 (Estimate: HK$64,000-96,000/US$8,000-12,000, Lot 759). Leroy is no less phenomenal thanks to two very rare cases: 12 bottles of 1985 Chambertin (Estimate: HK$144,000-200,000/US$18,000-24,000, Lot 772) and 12 bottles of 1992 Musigny (Estimate: HK$72,000-96,000/US$9,000-12,000, Lot 773).

White Burgundy is led by 8 bottles of 1985 Montrachet (Estimate: HK$280,000-380,000/US$35,000-48,000, Lot 794) and remarkably almost 30 pristine full cases of Leflaive Grand and Premier crus - almost all in owc - plus 20 lots of the outstanding, rare wines from Coche-Dury and Lafon.

Astute collectors will also note, as befits a world class collection and this exectuive’s acumen during decades of collecting, many rare and exceptional lots of Bordeaux too, wines that are highlights within any cellar, in tandem with the exceptional Burgundies which are the centerpiece of this wonderful collection.

LEGENDARY LAFITE AND PÉTRUS, PLUS PERFECT BORDEAUX IN OWCs

The 1959 Lafite is considered by every Bordeaux collector to be one of the very greatest wines made during the past century. Quite a statement and these 10 outstanding bottles of 1959 Lafite in owc (Estimate: HK$200,000-260,000/US$26,000-32,000, Lot 391) are equal to that universal acclaim. There are also 12 bottles of the 1959 Lafite’s modern equivalent, the 2000 Lafite in owc (Estimate: HK$128,000-180,000/US$16,000-22,000, Lot 487).

1989 Pétrus is viewed by many as that famed property’s greatest wine - an always and forever legendary wine that it is impossible to own too much. Two 12-bottle cases of 1989 Pétrus are offered in the sale (Estimate: HK$280,000-380,000/US$35,000-48,000, Lot 732; Estimate: HK$280,000-380,000/US$35,000-48,000, Lot 162). As are two 12-bottle OWCs of the equally famed 1982 Petrus (Estimate: HK$400,000-600,000/US$50,000-75,000, Lot 161; HK$400,000-600,000/US$50,000-75,000, Lot 731). 1989 and 1982 Petrus are extraordinary vintages, and collectors have the rare chance to buy cases of both wines in this auction.

Bordeaux lovers also should not miss the collection that begins our Saturday session at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong entitled “Bordeaux Originals” (Lots 464-513). This outstanding collection contains owc after owc of outstanding Bordeaux with great provenance from a great cellar. Every original case was purchased either direct from the Chateaux during the collector’s many trips to Bordeaux, or immediately on release. Nor should serious collectors miss two highlights of Friday night’s session at the Island Shangri-La. “London Roots” (Lots 163-252) is a collection containing a simply wonderful array of France’s greatest estates and wines, all from perfect storage, as well as the collection “Vintage Tastings: Part II” (Lots 379-463) from one of our favorite European collectors and connoisseurs. These three collections should not be missed.

SUPERLOTS OF SASSICAIA AND HARLAN

Acker is offering two important superlots of Sassicaia and Harlan from a Hong Kong collector. Both Sassicaia and Harlan have set the bar for Cabernet in Italy and California respectively and are highly sought after by connoisseurs. The Sassicaia spans 120 bottles from 1990 to 2009 (Estimate: HK$144,000-240,000/US$20,000-30,000, Lot 729) while Harlan unfurls 72 bottles from 1997 to 2008 (Estimate: HK$280,000-400,000/US$35,000-50,000, Lot 730). Almost every case and bottle in both lots is in their original cases.

You can download the catalog with the following link and save for easier viewing http://ackerwines.co/Catalogs/141A_FINAL_WEB.pdf