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Spectrum Wine Auctions June 25-26 Sale, Featuring The Aubrey McClendon Collection Part V and The Pennsylvania Underground, to be Held at The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong

(June 2, 2011; IRVINE, CA)—On the heels of the blockbuster $5.5M auction in March,
Spectrum Wine Auctions, one of the world’s leading international fine and rare wine auction houses, will offer three major single-owner collections in the upcoming live auction, to be held at the brand new Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong, now the world’s tallest hotel, on June 25 and 26. Richard Brierley, current Head of Fine Wine at Vanquish Ltd., and previous Head of North American Wine Sales at Christie’s, will preside as auctioneer as he did for the March sale. To supplement the live sale, Spectrum Wine will offer additional wines from these three hallmark consignments in its largest ever internet-only auction on June 30. For more information or to request a printed catalog for either the live or online sale, go to www.spectrumwine.com or call 949.748.4845.
 
“We’ve worked hard to establish Spectrum Wine as the go-to wine auction house of the 21st century and we’re elated over the quantity and quality of pristine wine offered in the June live and internet-only auctions,” says Spectrum Wine Auctions President Jason Boland. “These collections represent the very best the market has to offer and we're very excited to offer them in the newly opened Ritz-Carlton. Bordeaux collectors will be thrilled with our cases of benchmark vintages and red Burgundy collectors will be presented with our largest offering ever!”
 
The sale leads off with gems from one of the East Coast’s most famed cellars. Titled “The Pennsylvania Underground Collection,” the consignment spans Bordeaux, Côte d’Or, France’s northern Rhône Valley, VDP estates of Germany and classic California wines. Notable highlights include cases of 1995 Château Lafite Rothschild (estimate: $10,000); cases of 1990 Château Latour (estimate: $8,500); cases of 1986 Château Lafite Rothschild (estimate: $25,000); large quantities of grand cru Burgundy in occ from top producers like de Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé and Domaine Leroy; a historic selection of one of the finest, largest and most comprehensive collections of Chave Hermitage ever to be sold at auction; and the most significant offering of wines from Araujo’s Eisele Vineyard ever brought to the Asian market, including a 17-year double magnum vertical (estimate: $10,000).
 
The sale continues with further lots from one of America’s deepest and most famous collections, “The Aubrey McClendon Collection Part V.” Highlights include Bordeaux imperials from the perfect 2000 vintage from Château Lafite Rothschild (estimate: $22,500), Château Mouton Rothschild (estimate: $12,000), Château Haut-Brion (estimate: $6,500) and Château La Mission Haut-Brion (estimate: $6,500) as well as cases of 1995 Château Pétrus (estimate: $22,500). Each of the previous four installments of the collection offered by Spectrum Wine Auctions generated substantial interest among buyers, due to the well-documented provenance and impeccable condition of the wines offered.
 
Rounding out the sale is “A Major General’s Collection,” featuring wines primarily purchased in the late 1980s and early 1990s that have been stored in perfect cellar conditions at the General’s 140-acre colonial estate in Southern California. The collection features cases of 2000 Château Margaux (estimate $14,000); 2000 Château Latour (estimate: $15,000); 1989 Chateau Haut-Brion (estimate: $15,000); and a double magnum of 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild (estimate: $16,000). 
 
Other top consignments from the June sale include a rare late-release bottle of 1869 Château Lafite Rothschild direct from the Château; multiple case lots of Château Ausone from highly rated vintages; large format lots of Le Pin; and new world standouts like Screaming Eagle, Scarecrow and Colgin. 
 
“Spectrum Wine’s success in attracting top level consignments is the result of our outstanding relationships with clients around the world, our unrivaled international team of experts, and our ‘customer-first’ experience of offering photos of every lot, live-bidding and user friendly catalogues and estimates,” says Spectrum Wine Auctions’ Senior Consultant and Strategic Advisor Kevin Swersey. “In a crowded market, provenance becomes even more important and all seasoned buyers know the best way to ensure top quality is to buy from trusted collections.”
 
Bidders who are not available to attend the Hong Kong auction in person may still participate by using Spectrum Wine Auctions’ fully-integrated real-time bidding software system online. In addition to secure transactions, the software allows for live streaming audio and video of the auction floor, bringing the auction experience in-house for online bidders around the world. Bids are also accepted via mail and fax before the sale, and arrangements may be made for live phone bidding.
 
About Spectrum Wine Auctions
Following in the grand tradition of its sister auction companies, Spectrum Wine Auctions is a subsidiary of Spectrum Group International, Inc. (SPGZ:PK), a consolidated global collectibles network. The company is a leading auctioneer of stamps, coins, and other memorabilia, targeting both collectors and dealers. Building a strong financial foundation, Spectrum Group International is also a merchant/dealer of certain collectibles and trader of precious metals. The company's collectibles offerings range from the modest to ultra high-end in value and span the globe. Spectrum Wine Auctions also conducts semimonthly online auctions through www.spectrumwine.com. The company offers competitive incentives for consignors, including 30-day payouts in full for all lots sold regardless as to whether the firm has collected from each buyer, and the ability to consign both highly-collectible and commonly found wines.

Backed by many decades of auction expertise and driven by a team of dedicated wine specialists and enthusiasts, Spectrum Wine Auctions is committed to offering buyers and sellers alike the most accessible and expansive auction opportunities of what is simply the world’s greatest consumable and collectible product—wine.

For more information on Spectrum Wine Auctions, please call at 949.748.4845 or visit www.spectrumwine.com.