Bonham’s eyes up final sales in Hostellerie Jérôme cellar series

Bonham’s has unveiled the line-up in the final sale of the six-auction series of wines from the legendary cellar of French Michelin-starred restaurant Hostellerie Jérôme, which takes place this month.

Amayès Aouli, global head of wine & spirits, Bonhams said the cellar of the now closed Hostellerie Jérôme stands “as one of the most remarkable ever assembled by a restaurant — a true reflection of an uncompromising pursuit of excellence and authenticity.”

The cellar was renowned for its breadth and quality, described as “an encyclopaedia of French wine with impeccable provenance… in pristine condition”, Bonhams said. It comprised more than 25,000 bottles that were purchased direct from the domaines upon release over a period of three decades and stored in the restaurant’s cellars and included wines from Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and the Rhône Valley chosen to complement the cuisine of its chef, Bruno Cirino.

Aouli said it was an “immense honour” to bring the legendary Michelin-starred cellar to the international stage in a series of auctions across three key locations.

White glove sale

The first sale in the six-auction series concentrated on the cellar’s Burgundies, taking place in Hong Kong in November, with a live and an online auction. It achieved HK$25.9 million (£2.54m), a white glove live auction that surpassed its high pre-sale estimate totals.

The second part, concentrating on the cellar’s French Riviera’s “gastronomic heritage” took place in Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyrin France in February, raising more than more than €1 million across both the live and online auctions.  All 306 items in the live auction sold for a total of nearly €609,000, raising approximately 155% of the low estimate, while the online sale totalled €396,316.

More than 300 bidders from 26 different countries vied for lots, with the successful bidders coming from 15 different countries (70% from Europe, 17% from UK, 11.5% from APAC and 1.5% from the US), it said.  Highlights of the sale include an assorted 11-bottle case of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, 2010, which sold for €52,080 and a case of Domaine d’Auvenay, Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, 2005, which sold for €10,540 against an estimate of €8,500 to €11,000.

The final live auction will take place on 23 April in London, with the online auction taking place between 9–30 April 2026.

“This series not only celebrates the extraordinary wines that defined Hostellerie Jérôme but also pays tribute to the enduring dialogue between great cuisine and great wine that lies at the heart of French culture,” Aouli said.

Closing a chapter

Chef Bruno Cirino called it “a chapter” coming to an end and a way to share “my passion, our story, and our know-how with connoisseurs who value authenticity and quality.” He also acknowledged the important role of sommelier Marion Cirino who spent “several decades exploring the greatest French vineyards to conceive this legendary cellar.”

Highlights of the live auction include: a selection of Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny magnums, comprising Le Bourg 2006, Les Poyeux 2014, 2015 and 2017, three magnums of Le Clos 2012, six magnums of 2015, and three magnums of 2017, estimated at £6,000 – 7,500; An exceptional vertical of Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg, comprising three bottles each of the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 vintages, estimated at £5,000 – 6,500; a fine selection of Domaine Jean‑Louis Chave Hermitage, spanning the 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011 vintages (3 bottles per vintage), estimated at £4,500 – 5,500; and two bottles of Domaine Leroy, Clos de la Roche, from 1999, estimated at £4,500 – 5,500.

In addition to the live sale, the online sale includes a D 24-bottle case of Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier, Nuits-St-Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Marechale, 2010 (estimate: £3,000 – 3,800); a trio of Clos Rougeard Saumur‑Champigny Les Poyeux vintages, comprising 2009, 2010 and 2011 (six 750ml bottles of each), estimated at £2,600 – 3,400; a bottle of Domaine Coche Dury, Corton-Charlemagne, 2009 (estimate: £2,400 – 3,000); and a rare offering from Domaine Jacques‑Frédéric Mugnier, featuring Chambolle‑Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses 2008 (1 × 750ml) alongside Chambolle‑Musigny 2015 (6 × 750ml), estimated at £2,400 – 3,000.

Related news

Georgia to auction Stalin’s 40,000-bottle wine collection

Historic Polish vodka distillery heads to auction with £53m redevelopment potential

'Greatest offerings of rare and mature California wines' comes to auction