Vente n^o: 5527 – Top 10

- The sold total stands at Euros 3,075,481 / £2,644,422/ $3,898,516 (including premium, excluding VAT) for a reduced quantity of 544 barrels offered for sale – 450 barrels of red wine and 94 barrels of white wine totalled Euros 3,024,676* (including premium, excluding VAT, without the spirits and the President’s Barrel)

- The Special President’s Barrel benefiting two charitable organizations sold for Euros 50,000

The Traditional Sale of Wine in Barrel
In 2008, the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune offered a smaller amount of wine for sale: 544 barrels, compared to 607 last year (-10,4%), 680 in 2006 and 789 in 2005. This is the smallest number of barrels to have been offered for 21 years. There were several reasons for this: a difficult flowering of the vines, unfavourable weather during the summer and a rigorous sorting of the grapes at harvest time.

The new Cuvée being offered this year, Pommard-Epenots Premier Cru, Cuvée Dom Goblet was welcomed with enthusiasm, selling for the highest average price of any Pommard in the auction: €5.750 per barrel. In total there were 31 Cuvées of red wine, and 12 of white.

For the fourth year in a row, private individuals were able to participate and buy a single or several barrels of the different cuvées. Under the hammer of François Curiel, Chairman of Christie’ Europe and Emmanuelle Vidal-Delagneau, Christie’s France Business Development, the sale totaled Euros 3,075,481.

“At a time of economic uncertainty and after a summer which saw grape production cut by half for some of the best appellations of the Hospices (like Mazis-Chambertin and Corton-Charlemagne Dumay) in the end the results are better than we dared to anticipate. Wine lovers from around the world were present, despite the difficult financial context. The production of the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune was 100% sold this Sunday for dispersal to the four corners of the globe, ” said Anthony Hanson, Master of Wine, International
Consultant of Christie’s and Emmanuelle Vidal-Delagneau, Business Director and auctioneer in charge of the sale.

About 20 barrels found virtual bidders.
Once again, the participation of online bidders via Christie’s Live required a simplification of the bidding process. Any buyer was able to purchase a single barrel or several from each parcel offered in the sale. This new system seemed to be appreciated by everyone, including the traditional Burgundian négociants-éleveurs.

The President’s Barrel Euros 50.000
Since 1945, each year the Hospices de Beaune gives its support to one or several charities by donating the profit from one barrel: the President’s Barrel. This year, it was a Pommard Premier cru, Cuvée Dames de la Charité. French actors Jean-Pierre Marielle and Michel Blanc were the presidents of the 148th Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction. They supported the Comité de Côte d’Or de la Ligue contre le Cancer and the Association Enfants d’Asie. At their side, Sophie Vouzelaud also supported the League Against Cancer.

All the funds raised at the sale will go towards the modernization and extension of the Nicolas Rolin center and hospital.

*Euros 2.826.800 without premium

This post is tagged Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Christie's, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Hospices de Beaune Wine, Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru, Pommard Premier Cru, President’s Barrel