Pierre Chen’s Latest Auction Showcases His Global Taste Through a 25,000-Bottle Wine Collection

Wine is just one of Pierre Chen’s many collecting passions. The billionaire founder of Yageo, a Taipei-based electronics manufacturer, views wine as another form of fine art, one that engages senses like smell and taste, which traditional art forms typically don’t involve.

Chen—ranked among the world’s top 200 art collectors by ArtNews—has curated a collection of the finest wines in the world. A portion of his collection is now being sold in a yearlong series of Sotheby’s auctions. The tour began in Hong Kong last November, with the next sale set for New York on Sept. 13, before concluding back in Hong Kong this November.

The series will feature 25,000 bottles and is expected to bring in around US$50 million. So far, the sales, which include auctions in Beaune and Champagne, France, have focused on prestigious Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne wines, and have already reached about US$20.35 million, driven by several record-breaking lots.

The upcoming New York auction, estimated to exceed US$2.7 million, will highlight how Chen has curated the best fine and rare wines from regions like the U.S., Australia, Italy, Spain, and Europe. Of course, there will also be prized bottles from Bordeaux, Burgundy, and Champagne.

Featuring nearly 560 lots, the New York auction reflects Chen’s diverse taste as a collector. “Great wine is great wine no matter where it’s made,” says Richard Young, Sotheby’s head of wine auction sales in the Americas.

Among the 2,400 bottles up for auction are six bottles of 1985 Sassicaia, an Italian Super Tuscan wine made primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon, estimated at US$13,000 to US$18,000. Other notable Italian selections include an imperial (six-litre) bottle of Masseto 1995 (US$7,000 to US$10,000) and a magnum (1.5-liter) of Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva 1995 (US$2,600 to US$3,500).

The sale also features Australian wines like five bottles of 1982 Penfolds Grange (US$2,400 to US$3,500) and American wines such as six bottles of 1994 Harlan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley (US$7,500 to US$11,000).

“This collection demonstrates Chen’s broad palate, extending beyond French wines,” says Young, noting it signals to collectors that rare wines from lesser-known regions are highly sought after in the secondary market.

That said, there will still be plenty of “trophy wines” in the sale, such as a single bottle of 2005 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Romanée Conti, estimated at US$20,000 to US$28,000. A mixed case of 1999 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines, including bottles from famous vineyards like Romanée Conti and La Tache, could fetch between US$65,000 and US$95,000.

There’s also a lot featuring six bottles of Dom Pérignon Oenothèque 1971, expected to sell for US$10,000 to US$14,000.

Chen’s collection focuses on wines that embody the “sense of place” from their respective regions, Young explains. But the wines also exhibit a variety of styles. For example, in Burgundy, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines are known for their ageing potential, whereas Domaine Faiveley’s Musigny, from a vineyard Chen owns, is more fruit-forward and drinkable at a younger age.

In Italy, Chen’s collection includes both the traditionally made Giacomo Conterno Monfortino Barolo and the Merlot-based Masseto from Tuscany. Both wines will be featured in the New York auction.

“He appreciates each winemaker’s unique vision to create the best expression of their wine,” Young says.

Sotheby’s has dubbed this yearlong auction series the “Epicurean’s Atlas” to reflect Chen’s passion for both wine and gastronomy. “He cares deeply about flavours and the food he serves alongside the wine,” says Young, noting that at Chen’s restaurant, Blanc, in Paris, he personally collaborates with the chef on food pairings.

Chen’s collection includes numerous large-format bottles, such as imperials and magnums, which hold 1.5 liters—twice the size of a standard bottle. Larger bottles, especially aged wines, help preserve freshness due to the format’s ability to limit oxygen exposure, Young explains.

Highlights among the magnums include a 1962 Vega Sicilia ‘Unico’ from Spain (US$4,000 to US$5,000) and a Napa Valley Harlan Estate Cabernet Sauvignon from Oakville (US$2,600 to US$3,500).

Chen sourced many of his bottles directly from wineries or from single-owner collections at auction, amassing them over decades. “Some of these wines haven’t surfaced in years,” Young says.

Now, they are all being brought together for this exclusive sale. “It took time for Mr. Chen to build this collection,” Young says. “We’re fortunate to be able to present it in one go, offering collectors a unique opportunity to acquire these rare bottles.”

Source: Barrons

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