auction weekend…

20.11.2010billn

hospices de beauneIt’s that time of year again. This weekend is the auction for the Hospices de Beaune – and there is added spice.

It’s the 150th auction and the (red) grapes looked very fine, but with Christies driving the marketing of the sale into China, part-Chinese auction catalogues and a Chinese actress to stand beside the French actor at the sale, there is a clear, if unstated intent. The ballooning prices attained at recent auctions have had nothing to do with ‘worth’, only face, as Chinese buyers have squared up to each other – they could have bought from a merchant at a fraction of the prices they so publicly paid. But such scenes would be great for the charitable foundation, let’s just hope that the rest of the market remains rational!

I suppose I should have shared this link with you earlier, but there was a chance this year to buy the auction wines – almost direct – without having to sign-up for a full barrel. Don’t worry, there’s always another vintage!

Anyway, that reminds me that I should update my list of Hospices cuvées; there’s a new one and a couple of others have been ‘jigged around’. Another thing for the to-do list!

Agree? Disagree? Anything you'd like to add?

There is one response to “auction weekend…”

  1. Jean-David CAMUS4th January 2011 at 1:34 pmPermalinkReply

    Dear Bill

    thanks a lot for sharing this link to our website. It was the 2d time we did this operation with Albert Bichot in 2010 and it was quite a success, as the opportunity to buy Hospices wines (starting from 6 bottles instead of a full barrel) appeals to many wine lovers. We’ll reconduct the operation this year again. And, quite important, we’ll translate our website in English! Because we want to open our operation to other countries as well.
    All the best,

    Jean-David

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