Hospices de Beaune: A sale for almost 14 million euros, it’s still not so bad

The auctions rose well overall, but the number of pieces did not allow us to envisage a record.

The little things to remember from the 164th sale and our return in photos…

The mathematical laws are so made that even before the first auctions opened, Sunday at 2:54 p.m., in Beaune, we knew that the record would not be broken. 753 pieces were put up for sale in 2023, while on this Sunday, November 17, 2024, buyers had to share – or snatch up – only 436 pieces.
Or 41.83% fewer parts. And with this total, the proceeds from the sale at 13,944,200 euros are down 39.10% compared to 2023. Which therefore means that the average price of all the pieces has been on the rise overall.
Contrary to what has been said, written or commented on, sales did not collapse this Sunday, November 17, at the 164th Hospices de Beaune Charity Wine Sale.

If a relative drop was recorded in the first part of the sale, as for the Clos de la Roche or the Volnay Général Muteau, or the Corton Grand Cru Charlotte Dumay… on the other hand the auctions were on the rise thereafter, in particular thanks to white wines and more particularly Bâtard Montrachet… So, tastes and colors are not an exact science.

1st

As we had the opportunity to write (see our first article) the Presidents' coin saw bids rise to 360,000 euros, compared to 350,000 euros in 2023. But to this sum we must therefore add the additional donation of 100,000 euros , for a total proceeds of 460,000 euros. This represents a 31.4% increase in charitable generosity. It is important to note that this is the first time that an additional donation has been announced during the sale itself… MSF and the founder of the Global Gift foundation could have a smile. Eva Longoria, Jean Reno, Dominic West, Zabou Breitman too. They did the job.

19.000

The first auction of the afternoon rose to 19,000 euros for a Beaune 1er cru des Dames Hospitalières. Last year, the highest bid for this vintage was 18,000 euros, an increase of just over 5.50%…

64.000

With auctions increasing by more than 50%, the only piece of Puligny-Montrachet vintage Bernard Clerc fetched 64,000 euros, compared to 40,000 last year…

1,246 million

It was to be expected… Like every year, the Bâtard Montrachet was king, with bids at 355,000 euros for one piece and a total of 1.246 million for the entire lot: 3 pieces and a leaflet… We're not counting or more for prestige wines.

Ah Saint-Romain

From the top of the Saint-Romain vineyards you can see Mont Blanc. This may be what explains why the auctions have gained altitude with an increase of more than 30%.

Almost +70%

It was the Monthelie Les Duresses which experienced the highest peak of the day at almost +70%… Exactly +69;45%

31.647

The 164th sale ended with an average price per piece of 31,647 euros, up 2.54% compared to 2023.

Alain BOLLERY
(Photos Manon BOLLERY and

Jean-Christophe TARDIVON)