Spectrum Wine Auctions is an innovative live and online auction house of fine collectible wines. It has its’ debut auction on November 21 and is utilizing its’ website, www.spectrumwine.com to post has a full online catalog and lot profiles. Visitors and registrants for the auction will experience 2 features never seen from any auction house: Spectrum has created unique 360-degree photographs of two hundred (almost one third) of the lots. Plus the auction features single estimates for each of the lots which is extraordinary.
“The process offered us a chance to innovate, and to fill gaps in the industry that we felt it well worth the effort and expense to fill,” says Spectrum Wine Auctions CEO Greg Roberts. It shows the buyers EXACTLY what they are getting. These images–22 photos per 360-degree view–amount to a DNA fingerprint of each lot clients can use as a reference guide. There is no mistaking the provenance and integrity of the bottles. It’s also a fresh way for online visitors to evaluate the lots and shows them the wine in a way they haven’t seen before.”
Buyers and sellers will appreciate WineSpectrum.com’s innovative approach to this auction employing a single estimate for each lot. Traditionally auction houses often give estimates in ranges so broad as to undecipherable.
“The fact is, a single estimate benefits the consignor AND the collector,” Roberts explains. “Quite simply, we feel it’s more accurate. It gives a bidder a strong center point around which to structure their bidding strategy, whether they are bidding for value or are feeling more adventurous.”
Spectrum applied these two firsts to an auction of uncommon value and heritage. The bulk of the 5500 bottle, 686-lot collection– 3800 bottles — comes from The Collection of Aubrey McClendon, arguably one of America’s greatest collectors. As CEO of Chesapeake Energy Corporation, (NYSE:CHK), one of the US’ largest natural gas producers, McClendon amassed the resources and resolve to create a collection of nearly unprecedented range and quality.
Spectrum Wine Auctions, newly created wine auction division of Spectrum Group International, launches the premiere live auction for 5:00PM PST November 21, 2009. The auction will be held at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, CA, and simulcast at Crown Wine Cellars–located 20 meters underground in a former munitions bunker–in Hong Kong at 9:00AM local Hong Kong time on Sunday, November 22.
“We have high hopes for our inaugural Hong Kong auction. We feel the size and scope of the auction is of particular interest to that market. It’s pretty obvious the Hong Kong auction scene–and the Hong Kong fine and collectible wine scene overall–is burgeoning and Spectrum Wine Auctions was formed in part to satisfy the needs and desires of our Hong Kong buyer. The attention paid to and success of venues like Crown Wine Cellars–a remarkable place in the world to buy, enjoy and store wine–is symbolic of the potential success we see in Hong Kong. This is the first of several auctions we plan to bring to Hong Kong–we’re in the market to stay.” stated Amanda Keston, Spectrum’s director of client services.
A chat with Spectrum Wine Auction’s Director of Sales, Mario Scarlotti
Highlights include: two bottles of 1945 Latour;
a full case of 1959 Lafite Rothschild;
a 6 liter of 1982 Cheval Blanc in its original wooden case;
a 6 Liter of 1989 Haut Brion;
and more than 350 bottles and magnums combined of Harlan Estate from the best vintages (1994,1997, 2001 and 2002). It’s not ALL blue-chip bottlings, however.
“One interesting lot in particular is Lot #665–a single 750ml bottle of 1966 Robert Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon; the vineyard’s very first vintage,” Amanda notes. “The estimate? A mere $50 to own a piece of history.”
Spectrum will donate the commissions on Lot #39–an Imperial of 1990 Lafite Rothschild signed by McClendon himself–to the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, the largest private hunger-relief organization in McClendon’s home state of Oklahoma.
More information about the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma can be found at www.regionalfoodbank.org.
People or companies interested in participating can view the entire catalog at www.spectrumwine.com and register to view an exclusive video interview with Aubrey McClendon and Mario Sculatti, director of sales and consignments for Spectrum Wine Auctions.
Don’t forget to mark your calendar. Even if you can’t be in California, you can watch this exciting and highly innovative wine auction on your computer!!
Stevie Wilson
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