Hospice de Beaune attains third auction record in a row

FRANCE (Beaune) – Most recently, during its 154th auction, Hospice the Beaune attained a turnover of 8.08 million euro, thus, the third record in a row. Compared to the year before, the turnover was two million higher – a result which Christie’s, the organizer, estimates as success but which France’s négociants estimate as “alarming” for the market.

Hundred twenty-five potential bidders from 17 countries gathered – with their bids, the total turnover attained was 30 percent higher than during the 2013 auction. “The red Clos de Roche Cuvée Cyrot-Chaudron attained an absolute record with 74,900 euro per barrique, and the white Grand Cru Batard-Montrachet Dames de Flandres was, too, auctioned for a record price of 70,620 euro per barrique”, Anthony Hanson, MW and Senior Consultant at Christie’s, who was the responsible organizer for the auction, summarized.

The total turnover attained by red wines increased by 3.4 percent compared to the year before, whereas turnovers attained by white wines increased by considerable 14.6 percent. This year, the number of barriques auctioned was higher, too – in 2013, the number was 448 barriques; this year, the number is 534. The average price per barrique increased by 5.7 percent to 13,750 euro. “The result reflects the high artisanal standards of the Hospice de Beaune vintners and their team”, Anthony Hanson says.

The ‘cream puff’, a barrique of Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru was auctioned by Maison Albert Bichot together with friends from Canada for 220,000 euro. The turnover for what is called ‘president’s barrique’ is traditionally donated to charity institutions. This year, a part of the donation went to the Toutes à l’école (‚all in the school’) organization, which financed the school for girls in Cambodia, and a part of the sum went to Image Fondation, a charity organization, which takes care of the research on genetic diseases.

But not everyone in France is happy with the high bids for the lots. “I’m worried about the signal which this auction record sends to the market”, Frédéric Drouhin, president of the Union des Maisons de Vins de Bourgogne (U.M.V.B.). “In particular the higher prices for red wines are worrying for our customers because they are building up a psychological verge in the export markets, especially in the USA, our key market.”

An anecdote at the edge: During a pause of the auction, Adriana Karembeu, a former Slovakian fashion model, attracted everybody’s attention. Ms. Karembeu, who presented as patronness the barrique of Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru, offered her diamonded glasses as bonus to everyone who won the bid. Ms. Karembeu amid large applause handed her glasses to Albéric Bichot, the highest bidder. (red.yoopress)