Hong Kong Billionaire Joseph Lau’s Cellar Returns to Christie’s With Part III

Hong Kong real estate magnate and billionaire collector Joseph Lau is set to auction the third instalment of his prized wine cellar later this month, following two blockbuster sales that together fetched over US$16 million in 2022.

Part III of the collection will open for bidding on May 22 at Christie’s Asia Pacific headquarters, The Henderson, in Hong Kong. Comprising 213 lots, this segment is expected to realise HK$35 million (US$4.6 million), according to the auction house.

Anticipation is running high for the upcoming auction after the overwhelming success of the previous two sales three years ago. Iconic Wines from Joseph Lau Part I, held in April, achieved a white-glove result with all lots sold, totalling over HK$63 million—three times its presale estimate. The follow-up in November brought in more than HK$61 million, over twice its initial valuation. Both sales cemented Lau’s status as one of Asia’s most influential wine collectors and drew global attention.

The man behind the success of Lau’s wine sales is Adam Bilbey, now Global Head of Wine and Spirits at Christie’s. Lau’s first public wine sale was orchestrated by Bilbey in 2020. When Bilbey joined Christie’s in 2022, he brought Lau and his prized cellar with him, marking a significant addition to Christie’s wine department.

A Cellar of Rare Icons and Legendary Provenance

Part III offers a trove of rare and impeccably sourced bottles, headlined by an exceptional range of wines from the legendary Henri Jayer—the elusive Burgundy producer whose bottles are considered the holy grail among collectors. Many of these were originally acquired from Christie’s landmark 2012 auction The Private Cellar of Henri Jayer, adding an extra layer of provenance to their appeal.

Chief among them is a 10-bottle lot of Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1999. It carries a high estimate of HK$1.4 million.

Also featured is a nine-bottle lot of Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 2001, estimated at HK$900,000–1.3 million. The 2001 vintage, from Jayer’s final year of winemaking, holds immense sentimental and historical value for collectors.

Adding to the Burgundy treasures is a seven-bottle lot of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée-Conti 1999, expected to fetch upwards of HK$1,300,000. This vintage, known for its concentration and longevity, is among the most celebrated DRC releases of the late 20th century.

White Burgundy is also represented in elite form, with small allocations of Domaine Leflaive Montrachet, d’Auvenay Bâtard-Montrachet, and Chevalier-Montrachet—some of the most revered expressions of Chardonnay in the world.

Bordeaux Grandeur and Rare Formats

Bordeaux enthusiasts will find a robust selection spanning the finest vintages from the 1980s through the 2000s, including all five First Growths and their Right Bank counterparts.

Highlights include rare large formats of Château Lafite Rothschild, with bottles offered up to imperial size (6 litres), and coveted parcel quantities of Petrus 1990.

A standout lot is a four-magnum parcel of Petrus 1982, estimated at HK$160,000–220,000. Regarded as one of the most iconic Bordeaux vintages ever produced, the ’82 magnums are expected to ignite fierce bidding.

Each bottle sold from the auction will be affixed with a specially designed back label sticker. More details of the auction can be found here.