A happy ending to the sale of the Hospices de Beaune 2024

A trying early afternoon for the Hospices de Beaune and the maison Sotheby's auction this Sunday, November 17, 2024. The 700 buyers present were remarkably hesitant during the first hour of this 164th edition of the sales. The first vintages of Beaune and Pommard They sold off, without enthusiasm, at prices 15 to 20% lower than those of 2023. A fiasco in the making? Fortunately not. Bidders "woke up" for the top red wines, with one barrel of Échezeaux even reaching €175,000. Ultimately, Ludivine Griveaux's Pinot Noirs held up well, with the average price of a 228-liter barrel showing a decrease of only 5% compared to the 2023 vintage.

The average price is rising

Ultimately, it was the white wines that drove the 2024 sale. Many vintages saw their prices climb. In particular, the Meursault and the Puligny-Montrachet, the latter exceeding its 2023 price by 60%. Special mention for the three pieces and the feuillette of Bâtard -Montrachet grand cru won by the maison Bichot For an average price of… €355,000 per barrel. A sign of the ever-growing consumer appetite for white Burgundy? A reward for the exceptional purity of Ludivine Griveau's Chardonnays this year? Probably a bit of both. All in all, the sale concluded with a result of approximately €14 million for 447.5 barrels. Average price per barrel: €31,540, up 2.5% compared to 2023. Relief among the Hospices and Sotheby's teams. Given the political and economic climate, this result is satisfactory to all.

Dominic West raises the bids for the charity play
Especially since the sale of the charity play delighted the public who braved the cold in front of the giant screen in the Place de la Halle. Beaune The Bressandes Premier Cru, sold to benefit Doctors Without Borders and the Global Gift Foundation, raised €360,000, €10,000 more than in 2023. The association's godparents, actors Eva Longoria, Zabou Breitman, Jean Reno, and British actor Dominic West, who were in excellent form throughout the weekend, took their roles to heart, encouraging the audience and promising to open the first bottle with the buyer… who turned out to be Alaor Pereira, a Brazilian regular at the auction. This sum was supplemented by a donation from Francine. Picard The Director of Family Domains Picard , has Chassagne-Montrachet , donated €100,000 to the foundations. "I am very lucky to have the life I lead and it seemed obvious to me to support this cause," she said, moved, from the podium.

Bichot still and always number 1 buyer

Alberic Bichot , the CEO of maison Albert family Bichot For its part, [the auction house] remains the largest buyer of the edition, as it has been for over 25 years. For this loyal supporter of the Hospices, “ it was a very strange sale that kept us on tenterhooks until the very end.” This year, the maison acquired 85.5 pieces for €4,409,000 (32% of the total sale amount and 19% by volume). For Albéric Bichot “We are very happy for the hospital, and pleased to have purchased some of the Savigny , of Beaune but also of the Echezeaux grand cru and of course all of the Bâtard -Montrachet grand cru (3.5 pieces this year)”.

Morgane AIGU

Journalist (part-time)