Burgundy’s Edouard Delaunay to sell rare gems ex-cellar

Bonhams auction house is selling an ex-cellar collection of wines from Burgundy producer Edouard Delaunay, the first time the Maison has sold its wines ex-cellar.

The sale, entitled the Jubilant Revival in Burgundy: Maison Edouard Delaunay Ex-Domaine – Finest & Rarest Wines, will take place online from the Hong Kong office, running to 68 lots including some wines that have never been released onto the market before.

Laurent Delaunay, President of Edouard Delaunay explained that some of the “exceptional bottles” being offered for the first time, were “truly irreplaceable” and had never left our family’s cellars until now.

“We are delighted to partner with Bonhams, whose reputation for excellence ensures these treasures will find their rightful place in the world’s most discerning collections,” he said.

The collection comprises rare verticals, large-format bottles, and exclusive cuvées that have all come directly from the Delaunay family’s private cellar. Among the highlights is mixed lot of wine that has all been sourced from a single barrel of Vougeot Premier Cru Les Cras 2023. It includes a 1 Salmanazar (9L), 12 Jeroboams (3L), 36 Magnums (1.5L), and 120 bottles (750ml), and has an estimate of HK$280,000–360,000, with the successful bidder having the opportunity to personalise the wine labels.

Amayès Aouli, global head of wine and spirits at Bonhams said it was a privilege to collaborate with the Maison on their first-ever ex-cellar auction, noting that the team was “committed to sourcing wines of impeccable provenance and condition for collectors worldwide”.

“Every bottle in this landmark sale comes directly from the private cellar of this 132-year-old estate, celebrated for its heritage and excellence. This auction represents a unique opportunity to acquire to pristine, never-before-released wines, while celebrating the resurgence of a historic Burgundian name,” he said.

The Bourgogne negociant house was established in 1893 by Laurent’s grandfather, Edouard Delaunay, but was sold to the Boisset family in 1992, who held it for 25 years. However, it was Laurent who bought back the family business in 2017 and set about reviving the reputation of the house. He told db that this started by focusing on the top wines of Burgundy from the Cote de Nuit and Cotes de Beaune, “top appellations with small volume only, traditional and high value approach”. However in January  he told db he was “feeling the need and demand from our customers and distributors for more affordable, larger-volumes wines”, and had establishing new projects intended to broaden the business’s customer base.

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