Christie’s lines up two impressive Burgundy sales for its autumn season

Christie’s is kicking off its autumn auction season with two rare Burgundy sales – an “exceptional” single-owner collection of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, and a sale of more than 400 bottles direct from the cellars of Domaine Ponsot. 

The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti collection, which will be sold online from its Los Angeles office, going live from 1 September, comprises 75 lots from the famed Burgundy producer, including many of the best vintages of the past four decades.

The collection was amassed by a connoisseur who has been visiting the vineyards of Burgundy for the last 40 years and has established a good relationship with the Domaine. Many of the bottles were purchased upon release from the Burgundy Wine Company or purchased from respected auction houses, with a focus on exceptional provenance, and will be offered in their original wooden cases.

Highlights include several vintages of Romanée-Conti, Assortments 1995, 12 bottles per lot (pre-sale estimate: $40,000 – $60,000) f the 1995 and 2002 vintages in their original wooden cases, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, La Tâche 1985
magnum (pres-sale estimate: $14,000 – $24,000), Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Montrachet 2005 (pre-sale estimate: $7,000 – $12,000) and a large selection of magnums including a 1985 and 1989 La Tâche (pre-sale estimate: $14,000 – $24,000 and $8,000 – $12,000 respectively) .

“The condition of each lot is exceptional, a result of perfect storage and the immaculate cellar environment,” Christie’s said.

Chris Munro, Christie’s America’s head of department, Wine and Spirits, said DRC continued to attract collectors from around the globe, the small production and superb quality of these wines putting them “top of any collectors list of must haves”.

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti produces only 6,000-8,000 cases per year and is the only Domaine in Burgundy to produce wine exclusively from Grand Cru vineyards.

The second sale, which will take place in Geneva on 8 November, comprises a collection of rare and large-format wines from the cellars of Domaine Ponsot, in celebration of its 15oth anniversary.

The Domaine, which is run by the fifth generation of the Ponsot family, comprises 200 lots of 400 bottles directly from its cellars.

Highlights of the sale include a methuselah of Domaine Ponsot Chambertin from 2005 (pre-sale estimate: CHF 4,000-6,000), six magnums of 1990 Domaine Ponsot Clos de la Roche Cuvée Spéciale Vieillissement Prolongé (pre-sale estimate: CHF 17,000-24,000) and a 1959 magnum of the estate’s signature Clos de la Roche (pre-sales estimate: CHF 15,000-20,000).

Collectors will also be able t0 bid on a unique barrel of Domaine Ponsot’s Clos de la Roche ‘La Cuvée Hippolyte’ from 2022. This special cuvée was made for the anniversary from grapes hand-picked from 70-year-old vines planted on the slopes of the land purchased by Hippolyte Ponsot, grandfather of estate’s current managing director, Rose-Marie Ponsot, in 1922. The pre-sale estimate has been set at CHF 80,000-100,000, with proceeds being donated to a charity which helps women and children suffering from cancer to regain their self-confidence through activities on the slopes of Mont Blanc.

Domaine Ponsot produces wine from 10 vineyards, with 8 of these being represented in the auction.