Hospices de Beaune auction posts record wine sale

KOLKATA: This year, the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune offered 333 barrels of red wine and 110 of white wine. The sale featured 30 cuvées of red wine and 13 of white. Combined with La Pièce des Présidents and alcohols, the entire sale totalled €6,305,002/£5,277,917/$8,497,251, a record result for any Hospices de Beaune wine sale (the previous record was €5,9 million, established in 2012).

Since 2005, Christie’s has partnered with the Hospices de Beaune, and together they not only organize the yearly sale in Beaune but also tastings of the Hospices de Beaune wines all over the world, and across Asia, where the first tasting took place in 2010.

Michael Ganne, director of Christie’s wine department in Paris, said after the sale: "We are very pleased with the strong result, establishing a new record for a sale of the Hospices de Beaune. Despite one of the smallest crops of the past 30 years, Christie’s attracted buyers from 21 countries, bidding strongly for the 43 cuvées offered tonight."

Anthony Hanson, Master of Wine and Christie’s senior consultant added: "Many records were broken at the 153rd Hospices de Beaune auction. Stars amongst the red wine Cuvées were the two Clos de la Roche Grands Crus, with an average price per barrel of €63,166. The Mazis-Chambertin and the three Cuvées of Corton Grands Crus registered major increases. Amongst the Grands Crus white highlights were the remarkable prices of Bâtard-Montrachet Dames de Flandres, Corton-Vergennes Paul Chanson and Corton-Charlemagne Roi Soleil. The latter two established all-time records. These magnificent results confirm the remarkable commitment and high standards of the Hospices de Beaune vignerons, and winery teams – who have together produced exceptional wines in 2013."