Press Release Hong Kong For Immediate Release Hong Kong Rhonda Yung +852 2822 8143 rhonda.yung@sothebys.com Dick Lee +852 2822 8129 dick.lee@sothebys.com Flora Tse +852 2822 8147 flora.tse@sothebys.com New York Susan Ollinick +1 212 606 7176 susan.ollinick@sothebys.com SERENA SUTCLIFFE, MASTER OF WINE, HEAD OF SOTHEBY S INTERNATIONAL WINE DEPARTMENT HOSTS FIRST WINE SALE IN HONG KONG ON 4 TH APRIL 2009 Hong Kong/ New York, March 2009 Serena Sutcliffe, Master of Wine (MW), Head of Sotheby s International Wine Department, will host the company s first wine sale in Hong Kong on 4 th April, leading off Sotheby s Hong Kong Spring Sales 2009 to be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Dedicated to the inaugural sale is The Classic Cellar from a Great American Collector, a magnificent singleowner collection comprised of over 9,000 bottles with more than 1,200 in large formats. It is expected to sell for more than HK$30 million/us$4 million*. The auction will be held in two parts, commencing at Sotheby s New York on 14 th March and concluding on 4 th April in Hong Kong where the larger part will be offered. The sale in Hong Kong will offer approximately 750 lots (over 5,100 bottles) and is expected to bring HK$20 million/us$2.5 million. 1
Serena Sutcliffe is a Master of Wine (MW), being only the second woman ever to be admitted to the Institute of Masters of Wine in 1976, after passing the rigorous exam at her first attempt. Born in 1945 a legendary vintage she is considered one of the world s leading authorities on wine, and is an internationally recognized wine writer and renowned taster. In 2006, she was awarded the title of Chevalier dans l Ordre National de la Légion d Honneur, the highest decoration given by the French nation, for her seminal work in promoting and selling French wines. She was the first member of the British wine trade to receive this honour. Ms. Sutcliffe said of the superlative quality of the wines on offer: Hong Kong is a very wine-conscious city, and we therefore wished to start our new era of auctions in Asia s wine capital with a collection that does honour to Asia s wine lovers. To mark this notable occasion, she has delved into the superb collection of wines to be offered in the Hong Kong sale, and picked her 25 favourite wines from the collection, expressed in her own distinctive and personal style. SERENA SUTCLIFFE S 25 TOP WINES A PERSONAL CHOICE 1 Château Montrose 2003-12 bottles, est. HK$8,000-11,000 The top St.Estèphe châteaux were sensational in 2003 and this is sumptuous, complex coffee liqueur you can even drink them young as they are so luscious. 2 Château Mouton Rothschild 2000-1 jeroboam, est. HK$25,000-35,000 Almost overpowering bouquet and a creamy, black fruit, vivacious beauty. And the historic embossed bottle is a wow in Jeroboam. 3 Château Trotanoy 1998-12 bottles, est. HK$12,000-17,000 A stand-out in a recent vertical of Trotanoy. Voluptuous scented plums, with stunning, explosive expression. 4 Château Margaux 1996-12 bottles, est. HK$32,000-45,000 This showed beautifully at a recent Masters of Wine tasting, with enormous intensity and Cabernet Sauvignon concentration multi-layered and dimensional, this is majestic Margaux. 5 Château Lafleur 1989-12 bottles, est. HK$60,000-85,000 Royally rich and full of cocoa beans, chocolate and cinnamon sticks. Somehow this is fabulous with venison trust me! 6 Château Pichon Lalande 1982-12 bottles, est. HK$25,000-35,000 Quite simply, the most sumptuously consistent 1982 instant pleasure. Drinking it is like coming home. 2
7 Château La Mission Haut Brion 1975-12 bottles, est. HK$50,000-70,000 A chef d'oeuvre from Woltner. On the palate, so full and sweet. A wondrous wine of immense allure and seduction. Fresh acidity to match the sweetness. Heavenly. 8 Château Pétrus 1971-6 magnums, est. HK$95,000-140,000 One of my most treasured wines and I really do not know why I am telling you this as then it goes even further beyond my means! Sweet raisins, vanillin, aromatic and chocolatey. 9 Château Margaux 1959-12 bottles, est. HK$38,000-55,000 A great treat at the château last year and again last night! The memory stays for ever on the palate. I can never decide if I prefer this to the 1961, but I keep trying. 10 Château d'yquem 2001-12 bottles, est. HK$28,000-38,000 I simply adore this - so lemony on the nose with an amazing explosion of lemon curd aromas and flavours. 11 Château d Yquem 1989-12 bottles, est. HK$20,000-28,000 Having completed the tasting notes for the new book on Yquem, this was just so exotic and exciting, all smoky figs and caramel oranges. 12 Echézeaux 2001 - DRC Assortment, est. HK$45,000-70,000 A wonderful example of the beauty of this vintage in Burgundy, with enticing strawberries, spices and roses and a very juicy finish. 13 Grands Echézeaux 2001 - DRC Assortment, est. HK$45,000-65,000 Fabulous to compare with the Echézeaux, as it is more tannic, with a terrific taste of red cherries the bouquet and flavour emerge from the glass like a rocket. 14 Richebourg DRC 1996-1 methuselah, est. HK$45,000-65,000 Very alluring scent with red fruit melting in the mouth the large formats here are a real temptation and they will last. 3
Pichon Lalande 1982 Mouton Rothschild 2000/Margaux 1996 Château d Yquem 1989 La Tâche 1985 15 La Tâche DRC 1985-12 bottles, est. HK$110,000-160,000 Drunk recently at the marvellous Greenhouse restaurant in London and as lyrically lovely as ever. Mmmmm. 16 Chevalier Montrachet, Domaine Leflaive 1996-12 bottles, est. HK$42,000-60,000 A sublime gingerbread nose leads to a heavenly cloves, nuts and lemons taste this is what white Burgundy is all about. Try it with lobster noodles! 17 Montrachet DRC 1985-2 magnums, est. HK$55,000-75,000 I have just had this again and it is total bliss, ripe, elegant and limey, with a finish of tangerines. Real breed too. 18 Krug 1990-6 magnums, est. HK$17,000-28,000 I make no apologies for being a Champagne Girl and a Krugiste into the bargain. Fellini-esque and super sleek, with a serene future before it, if you can resist it now. 19 Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 1990 4 bottles and 3 magnums, est. HK$8,500-12,000 Total purity of fruit and style in a very noble Cuvée and a tribute to the great man. 20 Veuve Clicquot La Grande Dame 1990-12 bottles, est. HK$7,500-11,000 The perfect intermingling of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and a great, rounded, white peaches Champagne. 21 Château de Beaucastel, Hommage à Jacques Perrin 1998-1 jeroboam, est. HK$15,000-20,000 Always a spectacular wine and, in 1998, marvellous wild herbs and rich glycerol a triumph. 22 Penfolds Grange 1998-12 bottles, est. HK$15,000-22,000 I am completely enamoured of Australia s gift to the wine world, with its sheer individuality and personality. This is a giant Grange of huge volume and opulence. 4
Beaucastel Hommage á Jacques Perrin 1998 Chevalier Montrachet 1996 Gaja Sperss 1997 Vega Sicilia Unico 1970 Krug 1990 23 Ornellaia 1997 - double magnum vertical, est. HK$6,500-9,000 So many spices on the nose and such a delectable taste backed up by confident structure. I always feel this is the Château Margaux of Bolgheri there is something in the texture. 24 Gaja Sperss 1997-1 jeroboam, est. HK$13,000-18,000 Having just returned from seeing Angelo Gaja in Piemonte, this is almost painfully evocative and showstopping with white truffles too! 25 Vega Sicilia Unico 1970-12 bottles, est. HK$28,000-40,000 I am utterly addicted to this wine, all aromatic sweet seduction, blackberries in liqueur and liquorice superb with feathered game. ABOUT SERENA SUTCLIFF Ms. Sutcliffe s interest in wine developed in France where she was working for UNESCO as a translator. Her passion inspired her to change careers altogether, and in 1971 she moved to London to join the wine trade. As noted earlier, she became a Master of Wine in 1976. She served as chairman of the Institute of Masters of Wine (1994-1995) and has received many honours for her work in the wine industry. In 1993 she was made a member of the prestigious Académie Internationale du Vin. In 1996, she was given the Ruth Ellen Church Award in the United States for her outstanding contributions to wine and food journalism. In 2002, she received the New York Institute of Technology s Professional Excellence Award and in 2006, the Lifetime Achievement Award from The Society of Bacchus America. In addition to the Légion d Honneur, in 1988 the French Government made her a Chevalier dans l Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in recognition of her contribution to literature on French wine. Her most recent book, The 5
Wines of Burgundy, appeared in its 8 th edition in 2005. She is married to David Peppercorn, MW, also a noted wine expert and author. Serena has been with Sotheby s since 1991. Besides heading Sotheby s worldwide wine auctions, she is also a member of Sotheby s European Board and is a regular lecturer and broadcaster in Europe, the United States and Asia. During her tenure, Sotheby s held their largest wine sale ever, The Millennium Wine Cellar, which took place in New York in November 1999 and raised US$14.4 million. In May 2006, The Magnificent Cellar of Russell H. Frye made $7.8 million in New York, the second highest grossing wine sale at Sotheby s. * Estimates do not include buyer s premium ### Images available upon request ### Press releases are now available at sothebys.com NOTES TO EDITORS - Sotheby s established the World Record for a Bottle of Wine Sold at Auction when a Château Mouton Rothschild 1945 Jeroboam sold for US$310,700 at Sotheby s New York on 28 th February, 2007 - Sotheby s New York set the World Record for the Highest Value Lot Ever Sold at Auction when 50 cases of Château Mouton Rothschild 1982 brought US$1.05 million in November, 2006 - Sotheby s New York sold the World s Largest Bottle of Wine, a 130-litre bottle of 2001 Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, for US$55,000 in November, 2004 - Sotheby's boasts a strong international specialist team of fine wine with unmatched repute and expertise that brings to the market only authentic wines, with impeccable provenance and in great condition. Sotheby s Wine specializes in offering the greatest Single Owner collections for sale SOTHEBY'S HONG KONG SPRING SALES 2009 CALENDAR Exhibition Auction Category 3 rd April 4 th April Wine 3 rd 4 th April 5 th April Modern and Contemporary Southeast Asian Paintings, Fine Chinese Paintings 3 rd 5 th April 6 th April 20 th Century Chinese Art, Contemporary Asian Art 3 rd 6 th April 7 th April Important Watches, Magnificent Jewels and Jadeite 3 rd 7 th April 8 th April Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art The information above might change. Please contact the press office for the latest update. HONG KONG EXHIBITION AND AUCTION VENUE Hall 3, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (New Wing), 1 Expo Drive, Wan Chai, Hong Kong 6