Zachy's Goes Solo With Premier Manhattan Wine Auction

The wine retailer's sale, on Oct. 25 and 26, is heavy on Bordeaux, from rare 19th century bottles to more affordable lots.

Peter D. Meltzer
Posted: October 11, 2002

Zachy's, the Scarsdale, N.Y.—based wine and spirits retailer, is holding its first solo wine auction in New York this month, after parting ways with Christie's in December 2001. The sale, which will be held at Daniel restaurant on Oct. 25—26, reunites popular auctioneers Ursula Hermacinski and Fritz Hatton, both formerly of Christie's, who will share the podium.

The two-day event is rife with treasures, topped by a complete case of Château Mouton-Rothschild 1945, estimated at $50,000—$75,000. The last time a full case of Mouton '45 went on the block at Zachys-Christie's in 1996, it fetched an unprecedented $112,500 (inclusive of the 15 percent buyer's commission).

Major consignors to the 1,574-lot sale include Bordeaux négociant Mahler-Besse, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou and Robert and Margie Petersen, who owned the former Scandia Restaurant in Los Angeles.

The Bordeaux-intensive sale delves back to the 19th century and includes a single bottle of Château Lafite Rothschild 1870, estimated at $6,000—$9,000, and a bottle of Château Léoville Barton 1899, estimated at $600—$1,000. Other collector's items include a double magnum of Château Cheval-Blanc 1950 ($4,000—$6,000), a case of Château Palmer 1961 ($9,000—$12,000) and an imperial of Château Latour 1982 ($4,000—$5,000).

Burgundy is well-represented by six magnums of DRC Romanée-Conti 1990 ($45,000—$65,000) and six bottles of Henri Jayer Echézeaux 1978 ($8,500—$11,000).

At the other end of the price spectrum are a dozen bottles of Château Calon-Ségur 1975 (estimated at $250—$400), 12 bottles of Dominus 1984 ($400—$600) and a case of Château Clerc Milon 1985 ($350-$450).

"The sale contains a number of good-quality, inexpensive items," said Jeff Zacharia, president of Zachy's. "We're trying to reach out to buyers at every level."

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