A three-day Christies Intern-ational wine auction in Hong Kong has raised an above estimated HK$64.7 million (€6.6 million).

One particular lot containing 14 bottles of the Bordeaux first growth Chateau Haut-Brion, together with a bespoke console by London-based furniture maker David Linley, fetched HK$1.44 million (€144,000).

All of the bottles in this lot were shipped direct from the cellars of the Grand Cru Classe Chateau. These included a rare 1945 vintage and bottles from 1959 and 1961, arguably the vintage of the century.

Another lot, also containing a Linley console and 14 bottles of Chateau Haut Brion white sold for HK$1.32 million.

The Hong Kong-based collector who bought both top lots said:

“The bidding wasn’t as keen as I expected, so I got lucky, plus Haut-Brion generously donated the proceeds to the Children’s Medical Fund which added a whole lot of meaning to the lots. So I decided to go for it.”

The overall performance, despite coming in over estimate, was disappointing as about 16 per cent of the lots failed to sell, including many lots of another Bordeaux first growth Chateau Lafite Rothschild.

However, according to a recent report in Reuters, the weak global economy has failed to dampen fine wine sales. In good times collectors buy fine wines and in bad times they buy even more, the latest wine auction figures show.

Leading wine auction houses are reporting bumper results for 2011.

Christie’s sales have totalled approximately €56.7 million globally, more than last year’s €51 million and there are auctions scheduled for Amsterdam, London and Hong Kong before the end of the year.

Christie’s auction house also sold €870,000 of wine in New York last week, including six bottles of Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage 1911 for €48,200, which was auctioned for The Lunchbox Fund, a charity that provides meals for children.

The bottles had been found in the 18 miles of tunnels beneath the chateau’s estate.