New sales record (8 million euros) for the 154th edition of the wine auction of Hospices de Beaune

A very good vintage for the famouse Burgundy wine auction despite a sales-record sales not beaten for the sale of the « Pièce du Prèsident ».

“By holding the Hospices de Beaune we work to continue the work of the winemerchants of the 18th century by making this global event.” (Anthony Hanson, Senior Consultant of Christie’s)

On Sunday was held the 154th sale of the Hospices de Beaune, a major global event for the wines of Burgundy. This year despite the fact that the sale of the Piece of the President, Corton Grand Cru 2014 Les Bressandes did not exceed the price of the Charity Cuvée 2010 (€ 400,000) the total sale of the 154th edition of the Hospices de Beaune beats all records displaying € 8,082,525. This represents an increase of just under 30% from the sale of 2013 (EUR 6.3 million).

This year’s guest stars have done everything to raise the stakes, Adriana Karembeu offering dinner with her and her glasses with “real diamonds“, Teddy Riner a “personal course of Judo” and Michel Drucker dinners with George Clooney if the sale amounted to € 300,000, with € 350,000 for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie for € 400,000. In the final piece of the President was awarded a € 220,000 Quebecers. The amount of the sale will be split between the two organizations chosen this year, “Toutes à l’Ecole” (Everyone at school) association dedicated to the education of girls in Cambodia and the “Fondation Imagine” funding research on rare diseases.

During this sale 534 barrels representing 47 cuvées (33 reds and 14 whites) were offered to buyers. The list of wines is available here.

« We are very proud that a new record has been established, for the third consecutive year. The négociants (62% by value) were once again present on the phone, on the net and in the saleroom to bid on the 534 barrels offered, as well as private collectors (38% by value). This historic amount will permit the hospital to ensure the continued financing of the modernisations which began this year. On a personal note, I am very happy for our formidable vineyard manager and wine-maker Roland Masse who will soon leave us, after a (too short) mandate of 15 years. » (Antoine Jacquet, Director of the Hospices de Beaune)

Anthony Hanson, Master of Wine and Christie’s Senior Consultant added: “Many records were broken at the 154th Hospices de Beaune auction. Christie’s is proud to have been contributing to the improvement of the Hospices de Beaune Hospital for the last 10 years. This year, 125 buyers from 17 countries competed fiercely on the 47 Cuvées offered to realize the best sale since 1859. Numerous records were broken today. Amongst the emblematic Cuvées, the Clos de la Roche – Cuvée Cyrot-Chaudron realized an absolute record for any barrel sold at the Hospices de Beaune auction, selling for €74,900. Amongst the Grands Crus whites, highlights were the exceptional prices for Bâtard-Montrachet Dames de Flandres, which realized a new record of €70,620. These magnificent results confirm once again the remarkable commitment and high standards of the Hospices de Beaune vignerons, and winery teams – who have together produced outstanding wines in 2014.”

Press Conference of the BIVB (Bureau Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bourgogne) and the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune

The Hospices de Beaune provided also press conferences during the event where some major players Burgundy wine spoke.

So a few hours before the start of the 154th edition of the Hospices de Beaune we saw some disagreements especially between Roland Masse, who is very satisfied with the fact that Christie’s house was the auctioneer and operator of the sale of the Hospices de Beaune and Claude Chevalier (Chairman of the Burgundy Wine Board) who would rethink the operation of the particular sale to intervene trading, “to find a balance between the three actors: Hospices de Beaune, Christie’s and dealers / growers.” Next year it will launch a tender to rethink this relationship.

The selling prices of the various parts (barrels) and wines also show a disagreement between the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune, Christie’s and some associations who reminded them that we all must not “forget that the sale of the Hospices de Beaune is a charity and not of normal trade. “And Frederic Drouhin (President UMVB) wishing him a relaxation / falling prices for not” disturb the consumer, “the sale of the Hospices de Beaune is for him a barometer for market prices of Burgundy wines .

All players also came on the fact that one must be very attentive to the various laws passed in France and the jurisprudence around the Evin Law.

Claude Chevalier and Frédéric Drouhin also discussed the creation of two new appellations of Burgundy that are “Coteaux-Burguignons” and “Bourgogne Côte-d’Or” that “providing flexibility will allow wine Burgundy wines to occupy a market that can no longer care by offering more affordable. This is important because we must not give the image of a daunting area, a luxury image. ”

The conference was also an opportunity for Roland Masse (manager of the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune) to revisit these past 15 years as head of the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune. I suggest you read his speech:

“Personally, on the eve of my departure since it is my last vintage I would return to my work, on what has changed since my arrival.

We did a lot of work for analyzing soils to create new wines/cuvée to set values of different terroirs We also changed the cropping patterns by making organic even if it is not totally organic because it is not easy given the extent of our field but we try to get closer and I hope it continue as it is now.

You know my passion for the terroir and soil, I’m glad to have improved the quality in the last 10 years. We had also transformed the vinification cellar. Now we work with good material that allows us to increase quality. All these changes had only one goal: to increase quality, offer good quality in good and bad years/vintage. There is always more to do but it is well under way.

The other major change is the arrival of Christie’s as an operator and auctioneer in 2006. Before 2006 we sold wine in large volumes today we sell by piece (barrel). This brought joy to many people and I am delighted.”

Thanks to the Domaine des Hospices de Beaune their hospitality.

Jonathan Choukroun Chicheportiche