Having taken quite a hit during the current crisis, with the all important primeur events cancelled for the season, some 70 Bordeaux properties have nonetheless stepped up to the plate to participate in the charity auction that is taking place at iDealwine in aid of France’s carers.

With a project having just been launched by the #ProtègeTonSoignant collective, the idea of a charity auction was presented to the properties of Bordeaux. Put together by Karine Valentin (journalist) and Mathilde de l’Ecotais (from the collective), as well as Quentin Maydieu from our own team, the responses came quick and fast. These quick and generous reflexes were seen particularly from the likes of Bénédicte Pinero (Château Haut-Bailly) and François-Xavier Maroteaux (Branaire-Ducru), among others. After our call to action, several properties took a few days to collect their thoughts before discretely donating some wonderful bottles from their most superb vintages to our catalogue. From our strategic place in Bordeaux, the LMGV négoce (where Quentin works) got in contact with Dartess logistics, and together they kicked the project into gear with help at the Paris end from Antoine Gouriou and Victoire Seurat.

Upon finding out about the project from their communicative networks, some properties even got in touch to ask why they hadn’t been approached for a donation! Though for some, such as Château Figeac, the misunderstanding was quickly resolved when they checked their ‘spam’ folder…During such an unusual time, when so many are affected at the heart of their family units, it was imperative for us to get the tone right, to suggest without insisting. But we needn’t have worried too much, as the good will of wine makers across the region came to the fore in all its glory.

Véronique Duasse (Phélan Ségur) was particularly on the ball, not only sending some lovely bottles on time, but also providing us with some photos and descriptions to complete the picture. Some producers, such as Marielle Cazaux from La Conseillante and Jean-Michel Laporte from Château Talbot, went out of their way to drop off their precious bottles at Dartess themselves.

Knowing of our penchant for mature vintages, some properties took care to choose vintages from 10 or 20 years ago, even more in the case of Château Siran who donated a 1985 Jeroboam. Similarly, Château Pichon Lalande gave a lot of bottles from 2005, Château Saint-Pierre gave several double-magnums from 2000, and Château Rauzan Ségla has a lovely vertical of 6 bottles that go back to the 2000 vintage, as well. In Sauternes, whilst Château de Fargues brought out an exceptional series of six superb years, Château Raymond Lafon opted for the appellation’s ‘Trois Glorieuses’, with bottles from 1988, 1989 and 1990.

Domains are well aware that charity auctions are a chance to haul some gargantuan bottles from their cellars, a way of putting something truly unique on offer. This is why, in hat must be the oxymoron of the year, Domaine de la Solitude has donated its 2015 vintage in Salmanazar format – that’s 9 litres, or the equivalent of 12 bottles! You certainly won’t manage to drink that on your own! The impressive double magnum format was also the choice of numerous properties, such as Château Lafite-Rothschild (1996), Château Giscours (2012) and Château Marquis de Terme (2015). And a magnum will undoubtedly be the best way to celebrate being able to see loved ones again before too long – there are over 120 in the catalogue! If you feel like now is the moment to realise a long-held dream, perhaps you’ll be interested by the magnum of 2004 Petrus!

Even the properties affected by severe episodes of frost and disease over the past few vintages have shown their giving spirit. This has been the case for several organic and biodynamic domains such as Château Grand Corbin Despagne and Château Branon (which belongs to Haut-Bergey).

Whilst some have been unable to participate in the donation of bottles, that isn’t to say that an effort hasn’t been made…quite the contrary! Château Léoville Barton has found another way to join in, offering a day trip to the heart of the Médoc for a tasting session in the property’s winery. A lovely initiative from the Sartorius family.

And of course, the best thing about this project is the chance it gives to people to perform a gesture of solidarity for our carers. We received a message from Olivier Bernard at Domaine de Chevalier, saying ‘Lots of people are complaining at the moment but few are acting’. So if you know anyone who fits that description, you might want to point them in our direction.

See all the Bordeaux wines available in the charity auction

See the whole charity sale catalogue

Large formats

Grands crus classés from Sauternes-Barsac

Icons

Organic, biodynamic

Gems

Mature vintages

Magnums

Grands crus classés