Hart Davis Hart Auction Co.’s Celebration of Burgundy auction soared to $13,926,279, marking the largest wine auction in North America in 2025 to date. The auction took place on May 14, 15 & 16 and over 1,000 registered bidders drove this auction of Finest & Rarest Wines to a sell-through rate of 99.95%. Of the 4,002 lots offered, 57% sold over the high estimate (inclusive of buyer’s premium). Since March Hart Davis Hart’s sales have totaled over $31.4MM, with over 1,000 registered bidders in each of its three auctions this year, firmly cementing HDH as the leading U.S. wine auction firm.
Fittingly for HDH’s annual celebration of Burgundy, all but one of the top thirty lots of the auction hailed from the region. Perhaps settling the debate (for now) over the greatest Romanée-Conti of all time, a 3-pack owc of 1999 Romanée-Conti, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti took the top spot and sold for $65,725 (lot 1444, est. $42,000-65,000). A trio of 2018 Romanée-Conti, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in owc also surpassed its high estimate, selling for $50,190 (lot 3619, est. $32,000-48,000).
Other top Burgundy lots included:
Lot 390: 2005 Montrachet, Domaine Leflaive (1 mag owc) ($15,000-22,000) $33,460
Lot 1447: 2004 Romanée-Conti, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (3 bs owc) ($28,000-42,000) $41,825
Lot 2799: 1999 Clos Vougeot, Domaine Leroy (12 bs owc) ($30,000-45,000) $50,190
Lot 3592: 2002 La Tâche, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (6 bs owc) ($20,000-30,000) $38,240
On Thursday The Pinnacle Collection Part II (Lots 1357-2032) received clamorous bidding, no doubt owing to its reputation for impeccable provenance and pristine conditions. A magnum of 2017 Romanée-Conti, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in owc tied the world record price set by HDH in February 2021, selling for $35,830 (lot 1450, est. $20,000-30,000). A new world record was set for magnums of 1993 La Tâche, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, with 2 selling for $31,070 (lot 1454, est. $16,000-24,000). An incredibly rare methuselah of 2002 Musigny, Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier blew past its estimates to sell for $31,070 (lot 1611, one 6L, est. $16,000-24,000), likely the first and only time the wine will be available at auction in such grand format.
Also noteworthy from The Pinnacle Collection Part II:
Lot 1358: 1953 Château Mouton Rothschild (1 mag) ($2,300-4,800) $11,950
Lot 1370: 1989 Château Haut-Brion (1 mag) ($2,600-3,800) $5,019
Lot 1423: 1985 Château Haut-Brion Blanc (6 bs) ($2,600-3,800) $7,170
Lot 1433: 1983 Romanée-Conti, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (1 b) ($5,500-8,500) $11,950
Lot 1613: 1990 Bonnes-Mares, Georges Roumier (1 mag) (8,000-12,000) $15,535
Lot 1688: 1996 Montrachet, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (1 b) ($5,000-7,500) $9,560
Lot 1762: 1991 Ermitage, Cuvée Cathelin Jean-Louis Chave (1 b) ($6,000-9,000) $11,353
Lot 1892: 2001 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Soldera Case Basse (6 bs) $4,800-7,500) $13,145
Italian wines, particularly Tuscan reds, continued on a decidedly upward price trajectory. A large concentration of Soldera Case Basse was offered among several consignors, fetching consistently high prices: world records were achieved for the 1991, 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2006 vintages of Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, as well as for the 2016 vintage of Toscana IGP.
Highlights from Italy included:
Lot 117:1978 Barolo Riserva Speciale, Collina Rionda, Bruno Giacosa (6 bs) ($9,500-14,000) $19,120
Lot 456: 1997 Sperss, Gaja (12 bs) ($3,000-4,500) $5,975
Lot 504: 2001 Masseto, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia (6 bs) ($4,200-6,500) $7,170
Lot 1013: 2016 Le Pergole Torte, Montevertine (1 imp (6L)) ($1,800-2,800) $5,019
Lot 1894: 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Soldera Case Basse (3 bs) ($2,000-3,000) $5,736
Lot 2619: 2004 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Soldera Case Basse (1 mag) ($1,400-2,000) $4,183
Lot 3581: 2016 Toscana IGP, Soldera Case Basse (3 bs) ($1,500-2,200) $4,183
Hart Davis Hart Auction Co. Chairman & CEO Paul Hart commented, “Last week’s Celebration of Burgundy auction has proven once again that HDH’s incredible community of bidders remains eager to find well-sourced wines of the highest quality. Remarkable results were seen throughout the auction, with spirited live bidding on all three days. Providing best-in-class service and experiences in both buying and selling is at the core of our mission, and we’re appreciative of the continued trust put in us by bidders and consignors alike.”
HDH’s series of record-breaking auctions continues with An Auction of Finest & Rarest Wines on June 26 & 27. The Fall season opens on August 14 & 15 with An Auction of Fine & Rare Wines, followed by An Auction of Finest & Rarest Wines on September 25 & 26. Consignments are currently being accepted for the August and September sales; contact consignments@hdhauctions.com.
About Hart Davis Hart Auction Co.
HDH, the top wine auction house in the U.S. and a leading online retailer, specializes in rare wines. Founded in 2004 by industry veterans Paul Hart and Michael Davis, HDH offers expert service for buying and selling fine wines. The company is known for its advanced online bidding platform launched in 2015, enabling bids from anywhere in the world.