In a highly anticipated event, the wine world is poised to witness an extraordinary spectacle as Pierre Chen, a distinguished epicurean and collector, opens the doors to his remarkable cellar. This exceptional auction promises to deliver one of the best experiences for wine enthusiasts as a staggering 25,000 bottles from Mr. Chen’s prestigious collection are slated to go under the gavel.
The estimated value of this treasure trove of rare and fine wines is nothing short of astounding, with an estimated total haul exceeding the remarkable $50 million mark.
Gregoire Billaut, Sotheby’s chairman of contemporary art, noted, “If Alexandre Léger had a real-life counterpart, it would undoubtedly be Pierre Chen – a legend in the field, with the most highly attuned set of senses I have ever encountered. He is one of the world’s greatest collectors, both of wine and of art, and the sale from his collection of so many mythical wines will literally set the wine-loving world on fire.” Mr. Chen started collecting wines over 40 years ago.
Titled ‘The Epicurean Atlas’, these bottles will star in five separate auction occasions, each offering a unique and tantalizing experience for enthusiasts. The inaugural event is scheduled for the end of November in Hong Kong, with subsequent auctions anticipated in New York, Paris, , Burgundy and London.
Here are some of the highlights of the collection. A collection of six bottles of Château Cheval Blanc 1947 (US$7,500 – 11,000); 6 liter Imperial from Petrus, 1982 (US$45,000 – 65,000); Salon Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs 1971 (3 magnums at US$6,000 – 8,000 per magnum); three bottles of Krug 1973 (US$1,900 – 2,800 per bottle); two Methuselahs, 1985 (US$120,000 – 190,000 each); Château Lafite Rothschild 1959 (two magnums) (US$10,000 – 13,000) and more.
Although Mr. Chen’s collection may include wine bottles numbered in the six-figure range, the selection being offered in this auction represents only a small portion of his holdings. Remarkably, this auction event will occur within a span of fewer than five years since he divested himself of $15 million worth of wine.
