Image ex Christies…
Comments for this entry
The Market
Jean-Philippe Fichet moves to Pierre Vincent…
There have been a number of acquisitions in 2026 – usually by large groups and for mouth-watering sums of money.
Here is another transaction, but I’m thinking more mouth-watering from the perspective of the wines themselves.
The domaine of Jean-Philippe Fichet is being rolled into the Domaine of Pierre Vincent, and not a lot more than two years after Pierre moved from Domaine Leflaive to establish his own domaine in Auxey-Duresses.
I know that ‘succession’ has pre-occupied much of Jean-Philippe’s thoughts for more than 2 years. His early plan looked positive, but in the end came to nought. It’s fair to say that I think that the years of work that he has invested in his domaine are now in safe hands…
“Taking over Domaine Jean-Philippe Fichet felt like a natural step. I have known Jean-Philippe for a long time and consider him one of the finest winegrowers in Meursault. He is a true “gardener of the vines,” having carried out meticulous, craftsman-like work for decades. When he spoke to me about his retirement and handing over the estate, I didn’t hesitate.”
Pierre Vincent
I will have much to discuss with Pierre when I visit to taste in November, I already know that he will also be taking on Jean-Philippe’s cellars, so will have more cuverie space. Unfortunately, it looks like I won’t be tasting with Jean-Philippe this year…
Here’s the Press Release
Clos de la Chapelle, sold…
Domaine Guilbert-Gillet Acquires Domaine Clos de la Chapelle…
I heard it from 3 sources this week, but now I have it from the horse’s mouth, so:
“Yes, Domaine Clos de la Chapelle has been sold to Domaine Guilbert-Gillet.
He will take over the domaine for the 2026 harvest and beyond and will make wines from those vintages under his own name.
The 2024, 2025 and back stocks will continue to be marketed by us.
We are very happy with this transition and believe that Benjamin is the right person to take over and continue to enhance the quality of the wines from these beautiful appellations.”
Mark OConnell
Auctions done and to come…
Three sales – 2 for roughly similar values – but each for way less than a single bottle of Romanée-Conti 1945. The middle of these three for quite a bit more…
Image right from the Auctioneer, Baghera
Done – Andrew Lloyd Weber, £500,000:
Andrew Lloyd Webber sold his wine cellar ‘treasures‘ for charity.
Hosted by Christie’s, this sale was to benefit the provision of musical instruments in schools. There was also a strong sub-text to this sale, in that Lloyd Webber has spoken about how he became an alcoholic, so in the end, the joy that he found in collecting and drinking his ‘Beaunes’ had a sad end – though not so for the schools who will benefit.
This sale raised £517,910 for The Music in Secondary Schools Trust (MiSST), Christie’s said.
Also done – Baghera – nearly 2 million Swiss Francs:
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Baghera/Wines held two auctions in Geneva on May 10, 2026, presented under the catalogues KIPLING #15 Prelude and KIPLING #16 Heartbeat.
Including a bottle of La Romanée 1865 from Bouchard Père & Fils, which achieved CHF 122,000 from two weekend sales that totalled CHF 1’948’183:
TOTAL KIPLING 15 Prelude: CHF 1’378’467 achieved
TOTAL KIPLING 16 Heartbeat: CHF 569’716 achieved
Not quite done – Laurent Ponsot, €500,000:
‘Haute Couture Burgundy, In Never Released Large Formats.‘ This online sale by Sotheby’s opened for bidding on the 15th of May and will close on the 29th of May.
202 lots are being auctioned, each coming directly from his winery, with vintages starting from when he founded his new operation, with his son, in 2017. Not all of the wines included in the sale are grand cru, but they are certainly well represented here, with Bonnes Mares, Chambertin, Clos de Saint Denis, Clos de Vougeot, Échezeaux, Montrachet, Bâtard Montrachet and Corton Charlemagne…
And then there were three…*
My first thoughts, if asked to isolate just four major owners of grand crus that (for those with very deep pockets) would be hyper-attractive ownership propositions, would be to choose Leroy, Camus, Thénard and Damoy – roughly in that order. It seems that my list has already shrunk to three…
More details will doubtless come to corroborate, or otherwise, the suggestion of up to a 500 million Euro price-tag – it doesn’t sound all that expensive for significantly the largest owner of Clos de Bèze – but given the more challenging marketplace for red grand crus right now, who’s to say…
*Also the first Genesis album that I purchased !!
1945 Romanée-Conti and all that …
It’s been a while since this – eh ?
And now we have:
As shocking as that price may be, I am more shocked that whisky sells for more at auction: ‘The most expensive whisky sold at auction is The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 60-Year-Old, which fetched £2,187,500 ($2.7 million) at Sotheby’s London in November 2023.‘ But maybe that’s just because I don’t drink whisky 🙂
This is seemingly the same, Drouhin-sourced, 1945, resold. So, it would appear that for the first (Sotheby’s) auction, we had an ‘investor’ rather than an ‘enthusiast’ …
Last week in the Côtes + Seismic gossip !!
My first week of tasting – after publishing my 137 domaine visits the week before.
No surprise – not a lot of sunshine – but it was good to rejuvenate the taste buds before the coming 3 weeks of visits in Chablis 😉
But a big surprise was the monumental gossip that I picked up – and from 2 different sources.
I will choose to remain a little cryptic – as I already lost the possibility to visit some domaines due to publishing a previous gossip – despite it turning out to be true 🙂 However:
It’s been about 7-8 years since the last, quite similar rumour. There’s a very famous domaine in St.Romain, whose wines precious few people have ever tasted. It seems that the movers and shakers of a famous leather-goods seller have recently been ever-present at the domaine. If you are on my wavelength, then you will know that St.Romain will not be the only production entity to be affected.
Of course, it was going to happen sooner, rather than later, and potential purchasers are few and far between…
Jadot – Picamelot – a Press Release…
‘Maison Louis Jadot and Maison Louis Picamelot announce a new chapter in their history, founded on a shared vision of Burgundy, the richness of its terroirs, and its heritage. On the eve of its centenary, Maison Louis Picamelot has decided to partner with an iconic Burgundy winemaker whose strength and long-term vision will ensure the continuity and growth of the House.’
Getting to the crux:
Thomas Seiter, President of Maison Louis Jadot:
“This partnership is a natural fit with our long-term vision: to preserve the identity of Burgundy’s iconic houses, respecting their history and terroirs, to nurture their expertise, and to ensure their sustainable development. Maison Louis Picamelot is a leading name in Crémant de Bourgogne, and we are delighted to welcome it to the Louis Jadot family.”
From a previous visit to Picamelot:
The 165th Hospices de Beaune Wine Auction
Sale date: 16 November 2025. The following is my summary of the various press releases – as I chose to avoid the crowds !!
On Sunday, 16 November 2025, once again under the hammer of Sotheby’s, the Hospices de Beaune charity wine auction achieved the ‘third highest total in its history.’ No mean feat for a modest volume vintage, the average price per barrel continuing it’s steady rise with a 4.6% increase. The final hammer total was €18.75 million, an aggregate (with commissions) of €20.2 million. For this event, at least, the market for fine Burgundy remains vibrant.
A New Grand Cru and Multiple New Records
Following the Hospice’s full conversion to organic certification in 2024, this year’s sale was marked by the introduction of a 52nd cuvée. Thanks to a donation from the Faiveley family, the auction offered a Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Cuvée François Faiveley. The two barrels of this new addition sold for €165,000 and €170,000, respectively.
The white wines provided further fireworks. Two barrels of Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cuvée Dames de Flandres, sold for €400,000 each, establishing a record price for a barrel of this Grand Cru for the second consecutive year.
Albert Bichot: The Perennial Leading Buyer at the Auction
Continuing a tradition of purchases dating back to 1876, Maison Albert Bichot was once again the auction’s leading buyer. The Beaune-based négociant acquired 85.5 lots for a total of €4,516,500. This represented 16% of the total volume and 25% of the total value of the sale, including 22 Grand Cru barrels. Notably, Bichot secured one of the record-breaking barrels of Bâtard-Montrachet. Albéric Bichot praised the quality of the vintage, noting: “The 2025 vintage wines stand out for their balance and energy. They perfectly reflect the rigour and passion applied in the vineyards and cellar alike.”
Hospices Perspective
Guillaume Koch, Director of the Hospices Civils de Beaune, expressed his satisfaction with the result: “We are delighted to have just achieved the third-largest sale in our history. Once again, the white wines held some wonderful surprises.”
Proceeds from the auction (excluding the Presidents’ Barrel) will fund major investment initiatives, including the construction of a new hospital building in Beaune and the rebuilding of the hospital in Seurre.
Summary of Key Facts and Figures, 2025
- Aggregate Total: €20,223,043
- Hammer Total: €18,754,670
- The Presidents’ Barrel: Sold for €400,000 (Pommard 1er Cru Les Rugiens & a 1er Cru record)
- Average price per barrel: €33,930 (up 4.6% on 2024)
- Average price (Reds): €27,480
- Average price (Whites): €58,580
- Average price (Grand Crus): €86,290
- Average price (Premier Crus): €23,180
- Total Number of Barrels Auctioned: 428 red, 111 white (including 2 half-barrels), 11 eaux-de-vie
- Records:
Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru (€400,000);
Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru (€155,000);
Beaune Blanc Premier Cru Clos des Mouches (€60,000)