The vast wine collection of late energy executive Aubrey McClendon sold for $8.44 million, exceeding auction estimates and breaking records for some rare bottles, according to a Bloomberg report.
When the sale was announced last month, the massive collection included 1,058 lots of nearly 4,700 fine bottles of Le Pin, Pétrus, Cult Napa Cabernet and Mouton Rothschild Bordeaux wine, including large format bottles. The auction house conducting the sale, Hart Davis Hart Wine Co., estimated the collection to be worth $5.1 million to nearly $8 million.
Almost 1,000 bidders participated in the wine auction which began online on Thursday and concluded with a live auction at Chicago’s TRU Restaurant on Saturday. Based on sales price, about two-thirds of the collection went to American buyers.
The highest price of $65,725 was paid for a single lot case of three double magnums of 1989 Chateau Pétrus. Three lots of 1989 Haut Brion double magnums set records, with two selling for $35,850, according to the Bloomberg report.
McClendon died in a single car crash in March in Oklahoma City. Since then, more than $500 million in claims have been filed against his estate in probate court.
The auction was held one day following the deadline to file a claim against McClendon’s estate.