Rhône Rarities and Burgundy Records Lead Zachys December zCollections Sale

Market Pulse

The Zachys 2512ia zCollections auction, held from December 9 to December 22, 2025, demonstrated resilient demand for blue-chip collectibles as the year drew to a close. The sale realized a total of $603,559 across 1,013 lots, with 868 lots successfully finding buyers. This resulted in an 85.7% sell-through rate, which sits slightly above the provider median of 84.9% observed in recent months. While the average lot price of $631.94 represents a 54.8% decrease compared to recent high-value Zachys sales, this reflects the broader, high-volume nature of the zCollections format rather than a decline in market appetite. Approximately 20.3% of lots exceeded their high estimates, signaling localized pockets of intense competition.

Record and Breakout Lots

The Rhône Valley, specifically the holdings of Emmanuel Reyas, dominated the high-performance category. A bottle of 1996 Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Syrah Fonsalette Reserve Rayas reached $859.38, significantly exceeding its $500 high estimate and its recent median of $270.83. Similarly, the 2011 Cotes du Rhone Fonsalette Reserve Rayas achieved $937.50, more than doubling its recent median of $305.37. These results suggest a heightened collector focus on the secondary labels of Rayas in the current market climate. Beyond the Rhône, a bottle of 2019 Chambertin Trapet reached $859.38, a 75.8% deviation from its recent median price of $488.76.

Estimate Performance

Bidding was notably disciplined, with 572 lots (66%) selling within their pre-sale estimate ranges. Only 55 lots (6.9%) fell below their low estimates, indicating that reserve pricing remains well-aligned with buyer expectations. The price histogram shows a concentration of activity in the sub-$500 range, with 684 lots transacting at these levels. This segment appears to be the most liquid portion of the current auction market for domestic and international buyers.

Spotlight on Performance

Nuits St Georges Les Chaillots Jean Michel Guillon 2011 This lot saw a notable price escalation during the December sale. Realizing $49.48 per bottle, it surpassed its recent maximum of $27.50 and its median of $20.83. This represents a 137.5% deviation from recent performance. Looking at its one-year history across major auction houses, the price had remained largely static near the $20 mark throughout the spring and summer, making this December result a distinct outlier for the vintage.

Cheval Blanc 2012 Bordeaux performance was headlined by the 2012 Cheval Blanc, which achieved $585.94 per bottle. This result sits comfortably above the recent median of $401.15. While prices for this vintage have fluctuated between $350 and $532 over the past 12 months at houses like Christie's and Acker, the Zachys result established a new high point for the year within this specific data set.

Mazis Chambertin Armand Rousseau 2013 Armand Rousseau continues to attract premium bidding. A single bottle of the 2013 Mazis Chambertin realized $859.38, a 46% increase over the recent median of $588.35. While the wine had seen prices as high as $750 in April 2025 at Zachys, the current result indicates that demand for mid-aged Rousseau remains firm despite broader market corrections in the Burgundy sector.

Barbaresco Gaja 1999 Piedmont showed surprising strength in this session. A lot of the 1999 Barbaresco Gaja reached an equivalent bottle price of $371.09. This is an increase over the recent median of $259.45. Previous transactions in 2025 at Bonhams and Christie's had seen this vintage trade consistently in the $181 to $234 range, suggesting a localized spike in interest during this year-end sale.

Bienvenues Batard Montrachet Domaine Leflaive 2018 High-end white Burgundy remains a primary driver of value. The 2018 Leflaive Bienvenues Batard Montrachet reached $1,171.88, surpassing its previous recent maximum of $1,145.83. The wine has shown significant volatility over the past year, with prices dipping as low as $734 in June before recovering to the current record high in December.

Outlook

The December zCollections results suggest that while the ultra-premium market has become more selective, there is significant liquidity in the $200-$1,000 price bracket. The strong sell-through rate indicates that buyers are active when estimates are realistic. Moving into the first quarter of 2026, collectors should monitor whether the premium paid for Rhône rarities like Rayas continues or if the market will pivot back toward the core Bordeaux and Burgundy estates that showed stability in this session.