Hospices de Beaune auction announces line-up for 2025
This year’s Hospices de Beaune sale, which takes place on 16 November, has expanded its offer with the the introduction of an extra cuvée from Domaine Faiveley, as it continues to attract a wider clientele.
The 165th edition of the famous sale will see 52 cuvées in total, comprising 34 red wines, 18 white wines and two cuvées of eaux-de-vie. This will be offered across 552 lots: 428 barrels of red wines; 110 full barrels and two half barrels of white wines; the Pièce des Présidents, which is sold separately to support a more charities of the Hospices de Beaune’s choosing; and 11 barrels of the eaux-de-vie.
The donation of the Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Cuvée François Faiveley, is part of the 200th anniversary of the famous Burgundy domaine, which it says marks a “reaffirmation of the family’s deep attachment to the Hospices de Beaune institution and to Burgundy”.
Although the yields of the 2025 vintage was lower than some previous years (the 2023 sale saw 753 barrels on offer, although wet weather in 2024 slashed the total to only 449 lots), the resulting wines are “concentrated, aromatic wines with … impressive quality and excellent ageing potential” that remain “classically Burgundian in its freshness, pure fruit expression, and beautifully balanced acidity”. The year was characterised by early ripening although numerous heatwaves compressed the growing season, and although the team faced a challenge of uneven ripening, the grapes retained a “sun-soaked character, deep colour, and rich, enveloping textures”.
Ludivine Griveau, manager of the Hospices de Beaune wine estate, said that the wine had a “unique identity” that should be allowed to “stand on its own” rather than be compared to other vintages, a process she said was like “comparing siblings from the same family – each with their own traits, their own personality, their own strengths and weaknesses.”
“Why do we insist on rating vintages out of five? Given the changing climate we now face, do shortcuts like these still make sense? It’s a valid question. But perhaps the better question is: Why not? Why not let 2025 stand on its own – without the shadow or glow of its siblings? Why not allow it to express its unique identity? You’re about to discover exactly what this year’s vintage is made of: 100% born of 2025.”
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Charity piece
This year’s charity Pièce des Présidents comes from a prestigious climat that is usually included in the blend of the Hospices de Beaune’s Dames de la Charité cuvée, Pommard Premier Cru Les Rugiens. It is being sold to benefit the EHCO association, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping handicapped children in the Côte-d’Or region, and the Robert Debré Children’s Brain Institute, a pioneering research and care facility located in Paris, dedicated to understanding and supporting children’s cognitive development, particularly those with neurodevelopmental disorders, who are vulnerable or who were born prematurely.
Widening appeal
Marie-Anne Ginoux, managing director, Sotheby’s France argued that the sale was increasingly attracting a global audience, and had expanded into new markets including Abu Dhabi, Bangkok, Jakarta, Madrid, Copenhagen and São Paulo.
“We have already seen an increase in registrants, with wine lovers from as far afield as Brazil, Mexico, and Taiwan planning their journeys. This year, we celebrate not only the ongoing dedication to fully certified organic wines but also the introduction of a remarkable new cuvée that embodies the enduring generosity of the local community,” she said. “Together, we look forward to building on the successes of the past five years and championing the vital mission of the Hospices.”
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