Second highest result ever for Hospices sale

The delayed Hospices de Beaune sale realised over €14 million at the weekend, its second-highest result ever, with multiple new records set including for the Pièce des Présidents which sold for €660,000.

Postponed from its more usual November slot the annual sale instead took place on 13 December  at a ‘socially distanced’ auction with limited participants in the salesroom and others bidding online.

The lack of in-person buzz didn’t seem to dent enthusiasm for the wines on offer at all however, with the final total for the sale being €14.3m (£13m/US$17.3).

In total 474 barrels of red wine and 156 of white were sold, with the average price of the red barrels being €20,321 and the average price of the whites being €25,797.

The Pièce des Présidents, a Clos de la Roche in a unique barrel made from oak sourced from the Domaine de Chambord estate sold for its highest-ever price; €660,000.

With additional donations from two private clients, a total of €780,000 will be donated to this year’s chosen charity, the French Federation of Hospital Workers.

Additional new records were also set for: Bâtard Montrachet grand cru cuvée ‘Dames des Flandres’; Echézeaux grand cru cuvée ‘Jean-Luc Bissey’; Corton blanc grand cru cuvée ‘Docteur Peste’; Corton grand cru ‘Docteur Peste’; Clos de la Roche cuvée ‘Cyrot-Chaudron’; Corton grand cru cuvée ‘Charlotte Dumay’; Pommard grand cru – Les Epenots cuvée ‘Dom Goblet’; Mazis-Chambertin grand cru cuvée ‘Collignon’; Meursault premier cru – Les Genevrières cuvée ‘Philippe le Bon.’

François Poher, director of the Hospices Civils de Beaune, said: “Beyond the absolute record for the Pièce des Presidents, two feelings dominate on the evening of this sale: the recognition given to all the hospital workers who continue to fight day after day to care for the patients;

“The symbolic strength of the sale result for the whole of Burgundy which aspires to better days as soon as possible”.

Ludivine Griveau, estate manager and winemaker of the Hospices Civils de Beaune domain, said: “An unforgettable year, definitely; the moments that this 160th wine sale allows us to experience are unheard of and testify to an incredible worldwide generosity.

“Of course, I would like to thank my teams in the vineyards and winery without whom all this success would not be possible. I would like to thank all our buyers, thank you for our Hospital. Tonight, I am just happy, quite simply.”