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London | +44 (0)20 7293 6000 | Matthew Floris | matthew.floris@sothebys.com Matthew Weigman | matthew.weigman@sothebys.com New York | +1 212 606 7176 | Dan Abernethy | dan.abernethy@sothebys.com Hong Kong | +852 2822 8129 | Winnie Tang | winnie.tang@sothebys.com

RomaneBlockbuster Domaine de la Romane-Conti To Headline Sothebys London Sale of Finest and Rarest Wines on 7 December 2011

The stone vaulted cellar of a Northern European country house

AN AUCTION of Finest and Rarest Wines at Sotheby's in London on Wednesday , 7 December 2011 will bring to Wednesday, a close the company's wine sales in 2011. The 819-lot sale, with a total pre-sale estimate of 1.75 - 2.2 million*, opens with a superlative 212-lot collection of full cases of First and other classed Growth Bordeaux, in excellent condition and recently removed from the naturally cool, stone vaulted cellar of a stunning Northern European country house. Among the many enticing wines are parcel lots of Super Second Bordeaux, such as Chteau Pichon Longueville, Baron 2000, described by Serena Sutcliffe MW, International Head of Wine, as a big wine with a big future (estimate 1,400-1,800 per 12 bottles; lots 16-20). Multiple lots of Chteau Pichon Longueville, Lalande 2000 immediately

follow: with notes of cocoa and spices, the nearly ten years that have passed since bottling have produced a beautifully-bred wine characterised by its smooth-as-silk texture on the palate, estimate 1,600-2,000 per 12 bottles (lots 21-25).

Perfect for Christmas drinking is Chteau d'Yquem 2003, estimate 700-900 per six bottles (lots 205-212). The excessive heat and high temperature of 2003 proved to be a triumph for the Chteau, resulting in a wine that is notable for its orange honey nose mixed with acacia. The balance and elegance achieved was a feat for Pierre Lurton who came to Yquem after the harvest.

The second major collection of the sale is a fabulous range of First Growth and Top Right Bank wines recently removed from a purpose built and immaculately kept underground cellar of a country house. Since the owner bought the wines for drinking, he removed them from their original wooden cases and displayed the bottles in his cellar. As a result, superlative vintages from the last three decades are available at competitive prices. Standing out is Chteau Haut Brion 1989, a classic among classics, offered here at 8,000-10,000 per 12 bottles (lot 222).

The auction also includes a superb selection of mature and much sought after Burgundy, with a run of very rare bottles from Domaine de la Romane Conti. The 1971 vintage, ideal for 40th anniversaries, includes two lots of Romane Conti, estimate 6,500-8,000 per bottle (355 and 356); two bottles of La Tche, estimate 4,800-6,000 per lot (357); two bottles of Romane Saint Vivant, Domaine Marey Monge, estimate 2,400-3,200 per lot (358); and two bottles of Echzeaux, estimate 1,100-1,500 per lot (359).

Session Two begins with blockbuster Domaine de la Romane-Conti Assortment cases of the 1990 and 1999 vintages, removed from a state-of-the-art cellar of a true connoisseur. The superlative storage conditions have kept every single bottle in excellent condition. The dream Burgundy assortment of the 1990 vintage features 12 bottles, comprising Romane Conti (one bottle), La Tche (three bottles), Richebourg (two bottles), Romane Saint Vivant (three bottles), Grands Echzeaux (one bottle) and Echzeaux (two bottles), estimate 24,000-30,000 per lot (446450). The 1999 assortment is made up of one bottle of Romane Conti, three bottles of La Tche, two bottles of Richebourg, two bottles of Romane Saint Vivant, two bottles of Grands Echzeaux and two bottles of Echzeaux, estimate 24,000-30,000 per lot (451-455). A further assortment of 12 bottles of the 1993 vintage is offered with an estimate of 19,000-25,000 per lot (456).

An exquisite trio of Romane Conti vintages from 1988, 1989 and 1990 is estimated respectively at 60,000-80,000 for 12 bottles of the 1988 (458), 20,000-28,000 for five bottles of the 1989 (459) and 72,000110,000 for 12 bottles of the 1990 (460), and described by Serena Sutcliffe as a "very great wine, the epitome of that Romane Conti silkiness".

A magnificent collection of Rhne, Burgundy and Bordeaux - removed from restaurant Bistro K in London, owned by Jean Michel Aulas, the Chairman of French football club Olympique Lyonnais - adds further interest to an already fascinating line-up. Taking centre stage are Guigal's single vineyard cuves, Cte Rtie La Landonne, La Mouline and La Turque. Each of these lots come from the 2003 vintage, estimated respectively at 400-500 for two bottles (537), 650-820 for three bottles (538) and 750-900 for three bottles (539).

A wonderful offering of German wine features J J Prm's Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese 1949 and 1971. These historic vintages were produced by the maker of "the most magical wines on this earth" (SS) and come directly from a member of the J J Prm family. Six bottles of the 1949 vintage are estimated at 1,400-1,800 per lot (461-464) and six bottles of the noble 1971 vintage are estimated at 480-600 per lot (465). They have the imprimatur of all who hold great Mosel close to their hearts. (SS)

A vertical of Romane Saint Vivant from DRC - estate issued and in pristine condition - is presented in a single lot of six bottles comprising the 1984, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1990 vintages (lot 684) with an estimate of 2,600-3,400.

With the festive season approaching, the sale offers tempting Ports with alluring estimates to match, including six bottles of Churchill 1997 at 80-100 per lot (819) and 12 bottles of Quarles Harris 1994 at 220-260 per lot (815-818). Meanwhile from Spain, a splash of Priorat is provided with six bottles of Clos Mogador 2002 estimated at 100-130 per lot (812-813).

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* Pre-sale estimates do not include buyers premium

Notes to Editors Sothebys Wine auctions in 2010 brought an overall global total of US$88,270,602; this is more than double the 2009 figure and the highest in the companys forty years of wine auctions. The Lafite Ex Cellars sale held by Sothebys in Hong Kong in October 2010 set a new record for a single standard sized bottle at auction when a bottle of Chteau Lafite 1869 sold for $232,692. This means that Sothebys now holds the world records for a standard bottle, a bottle in any format - the Jeroboam of Chteau Mouton Rothschild 1945 which fetched $310,700 in February 2007 in New York and any wine lot at auction 50 cases of Chteau Mouton Rothschild 1982 which sold for US$1,051,600 at Sothebys New York in 2006. Between 2009 and October 2011 Sothebys Hong Kong maintained 16 consecutive 100%-sold wine auctions in Asia the only major auction house with this record.