Unveiling the Vinous Treasures: Pierre Chen’s Prized Cellar Takes Center Stage
The Pantheon of Pierre Chen: A Wine Legacy Unveiled
In November, Sotheby’s will inaugurate a series of five auctions dedicated to the legendary cellar of Pierre Chen, a Taiwanese art collector and entrepreneur known for his exquisite taste. The initial event, titled “The Encyclopedic Cellar,” aims to showcase the breadth and caliber of Chen’s assemblage.
Nearly 8,000 bottles, encapsulated in 1,500 lots, will be presented on the 24th and 25th of November at the prestigious Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Hong Kong.
The expectation is that the first Hong Kong auction alone will garner over HK$120 million (approximately US$16 million/£12.5 million). Over the next year, Chen’s entire trove, valued at up to US$50 million, will be gradually introduced to the world.
Primarily featuring French vintages, the auction also boasts a remarkable collection of Italian wines.
The portfolio includes treasures like a 1959 Krug, a 1999 J.F. Coche-Dury Meursault Premier Cru, and magnums such as a 2001 Vosne Romanée Cros Parantoux from Henri Jayer. Historical vintages, like a 1947 Cheval Blanc, will sit alongside rarities such as a 1995 Giuseppe Quintarelli Amarone della Valpolicella Classico.
As George Lacey, the Head of Sotheby’s Wine in Asia, puts it: “The ‘Encyclopedic Cellar’ provides a glimpse into Pierre’s extraordinary collection, offering wine aficionados the chance to partake in what may be considered the world’s premier private wine collection.”
Lacey remarks, ‘Every selected bottle, intended for sharing in intimate circles, mirrors Pierre’s astute selection for exclusivity, rarity, and genuineness. As he parts with these treasures, many from the most sought-after vintages, Pierre’s desire is for others to savor these wines just as he has—with friends and family.”
In this gesture of generosity, for every bottle offered in ‘The Epicurean’s Atlas’, Pierre Chen retains another, ensuring that the joy of these wines continues within his inner circle.
