The gavel will soon be raised at Ravenel’s Autumn 2015 Finest and Rarest Wines, open December 4 through 5, 2015 at Taipei’s Fubon International Conference Center, where a total of 905 lots will be available for auction. For this season, a variety of aged Bordeaux have been added to the list through rigorous and quality selection. On the heels of the highly successful whiskey section at the Spring 2015 Auction, we will be offering 330 whiskeys at the autumn sale. Be it a trendy Japanese whiskey or a classic Scotch, the autumn auction has the goods to satisfy any savvy collector.

First is the Bordeaux cellar. The autumn auction focuses especially on highly rated older vintage wines such as 1945 Château Mouton, 1947 Château Cheval Blanc, 1950 Pétrus, 1955 Château La Mission Haut-Brion, 1961 Château Latour, 1986 Château Lafite, and 1989 Château Haut-Brion. In the large-bottle section we have 2000 Château Mouton Jeroboam and 1990 Château Lafite Jeroboam; 1988 Château Margaux Double Magnum and 1961 Pétrus Double Magnum; and 1947 Château Cheval Blanc Magnum and 1975 Château Lafite Magnum. We have also brought in several vintages of Château Le Pin from the right bank of Pomerol. A collection of 15 consecutive vintages of this rare wine will be on auction, from its very first production year in 1979 to 1993. Each vintage is a superb wine that will never fail to surprise.

From Burgundy, we have several vintage wines from the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, an estate that has been a record seller in past auctions. This auction will include 24 lots of 17 vintages of Romanée-Conti from 1943 to 2010; 12 vintages of La Tâche from 1966 to 2009; and two standard-size bottling Romanée-Conti from 1956, 1969, and 1990. Particularly noteworthy wines up for auction include Armand Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze 1985, Domaine Comte de Vogüé Bonnes-Mares 1962, Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Bonnes-Mares 1986, Domaine Ponsot Clos de La Roche 1971, Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1978, and Meo-Camuzet Richebourg 1985. For Burgundy whites we have again selected DRC Montrachet 1986, Domaine Leflaive Montrachet 1999, Ramonet Montrachet 1986, Domaine des Comtes Lafon Montrachet 1992, and Coche-Dury Corton-Charlemagne 1989, representing the pinnacle of wine selection.

Champagnes are a consistent favorite among collectors each season, and in this vein, Ravenel’s Autumn Auction will feature the “Balloon Venus,” a sculpture by U.S. artist Jeff Koons in collaboration with Dom Pérignon which includes a bottle of Dom Pérignon Rosé 2003. Koons, whose total sales of artworks in 2014 came in second place worldwide, used the same method and materials from his famous “Balloon Dog” to create the graceful curves of his modern interpretation of the “Venus of Willendorf.” Older vintage champagnes will also be on auction, including such items as 1961 Dom Pérignon, 1969 1990 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Millesime, 1971 Dom Pérignon P3, 1979 Krug Clos du Mensil, 1985 Salon, Taittinger Collection Corneille 1990, and 1990 Bollinger V.V.

In addition to Bordeaux and Burgundy, Ravenel will be showcasing classic wines from another important French region — the Rhône. We have wines from two of the best and oldest estates in the Rhône, Domaine Jean-Louis Chave and M. Chapoutier, the latter one of the “Three Musketeers of the Rhône.” Also, on par with the big five of Bordeaux, are the stars of the Rhône — 1990 and 2009 vintages of Domaine E. Guigal “LaLaLa” (La Landonne, La Mouline, and La Turque). For those of you who enjoy deep, layered sweet wines, we have especially chosen several types, including the “king of sweet whites” — Château d'Yquem from the Sauternes, the top German sweet white from the banks of the Rhein — Egon Muller, and the legendary wine that takes 200 pounds of aszú grapes to produce one bottle of 6 puttonyos — Essencia, from the Hungarian Tokaji region.

Continuing an already stellar 90% close-rate in whiskeys at this year’s spring auction, the Autumn Auction will reach an all-time high for Ravenel auctions with 330 lots of  whiskeys on offer. First is the popular Japanese whiskey which took over the market by storm. We have superb 1960s and 70s vintages from Karuizawa distiller, notably 1963, 1964, 1977 retro geisha label, 1967 double-circle label, 1968 Whiskey Live Taipei limited edition, 1976 large-top geisha label. Rare bottles include 40-year Karuizawa, 45-year Karuizawa, Karuizawa Gold-Blue Geisha, the Karuizawa Fight Club, and Karuizawa 10,000 Arrows. In addition, we have items from the high-price, small-batch distiller Yamazaki: the 1994 Owner’s Cask Seiichi Koshimizu and the 1991 Takikawa.

From the classic land of whiskey, Scotland, come the premium whiskeys. This auction offers nine vintages of Fine & Rare series Macallan between the years 1938 and 1971, Ardbeg cask-strength vintages from 1974 and 1976, Ardbeg Double Barrel 1974, Balvenie Vintage Cask 1966 and 1967, Glenfarclas 60-year, several vintages of Glenfarclas Family Casks from 1953 to 1995, and the Glenfarclas Dragon Label full set. This selection of whiskeys is one that you do not want to miss.

Once again this year we will be continuing the instantly popular Malt Maniacs Awards winners, where several years of Supreme Champion will be offered. The selection includes a Laphroaig 1974 31 year, a Brora 30 year 2005 4th Release, a Lagavulin 21 Year Old, a Glendronach 1972 and a Kavalan Solist #S060904031, each once-in-a-lifetime whiskey much sought after by aficionados for their award-winning prestige and credibility. The other “heavyweight section” is the Silent Distillery Section. This season we have gathered consecutive vintages of Port Ellen from 1978-1979, first edition to thirteenth edition; we also have a Brora 35-year 11th Release, and a Rosebank 25-year, all rare finds on the market.

Kinmen Kaoliang, presented only in autumn, is out in force this year with items from 1960s and 1970s, 20 and 30-year vintage Kaoliang from 1971-81 and 1981-91 vintages. Among them are the elusive first-issue 1979 Black Golden Dragon and multiple years of Tachu Liquor, both of which will be available at an exceptional price.

Another first for the 2015 autumn auction is sake. Included in this auction is Daishichi Myouka Rangyoku Grande Cuvee, the exquisite Isojiman Nakatori Junmai Daiginjo 35, the Haku Raku Sei Zankyo “Super 9” made from fine sake rice exquisitely milled down to 9%, a 15-year cellared 2000 Kakunkou that was produced in limited quantities — only 50 worldwide, and a Katsuyama The Brave Smoker which perfectly complements a genuine Cuban cigar. Each sake is a one-in-a-million find.

In order to ensure that we can continue to provide collectors with the highest level of service, Ravenel will be raising its buyer service fee to 17.5% beginning from the 2015 autumn auction. Ravenel is committed to maintaining the lowest buyer service fee in the industry while continuing to provide each of our clients with the most reliable and professional services.