The latest online auctions held in February on iDealwine once again confirmed several strong underlying trends in the fine wine market: the enduring strength of leading Champagne houses, the notable resurgence of a cult Loire estate, and sustained enthusiasm for Jura’s most distinctive wines.
Prestige Champagnes continue to draw intense bidding
Leading Champagne houses once again captured bidders’ attention on iDealwine last month. Cristal from Louis Roederer continues to demonstrate its resilience on the secondary market, particularly for top vintages and sought-after formats. A bottle from the 1996 vintage sold for €1,214 (+59%), while several magnums also triggered strong competition, including a 1985 Cristal that reached €1,202 (€601 when scaled to 750ml, +14%) and a 1990 vintage that sold for €1,189 (+25%). More recent vintages are also performing very well: a magnum of 2012 Cristal, for instance, achieved €689 (+41%).
The same momentum is evident at Dom Pérignon, whose second-release cuvées continue to appeal strongly to collectors. A bottle of Dom Pérignon P2 reached €1,427 (+27%), while a 1995 Dom Pérignon Œnothèque sold for €889 (+58%), confirming sustained interest in champagnes that have benefited from extended lees ageing. Finally, enthusiasts of the great whites of the Côte des Blancs also competed for several bottles of Taittinger’s Comtes de Champagne, including a mature vintage – 1971 – which fetched €601 (+63%), further illustrating the enduring appeal of this iconic cuvée.
Clos Rougeard regains momentum
In the Loire Valley, results recorded in February appear to confirm a renewed build-up of competitive pressure around the cult estate Clos Rougeard. The estate’s iconic wines – particularly sought after by lovers of top-tier Saumur-Champigny Cabernet Franc – achieved several strong results, notably with bottles of Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg notably selling between €288 (2011 vintage) and €388 (2006, +9%).
Les Poyeux also confirmed its appeal, with several bottles of the cuvée fetching between €215 and €238. Finally, the estate’s white wine, Saumur Brézé, continued to attract enthusiasts of Loire Chenin Blanc: a bottle from the 2015 vintage sold for €213 (+17%). After a period of relative price stabilisation in recent months, these results suggest a renewed upswing in demand for one of the Loire Valley’s most iconic names.
Jura’s undisputed stars continue to fuel competitive bidding
Jura continues to confirm its status as a cult vineyard among the most discerning enthusiasts. Wines from the region’s most rare and sought-after producers consistently deliver outstanding results, driven by their scarcity and singular stylistic identity. A magnum of Arbois-Pupillin Chardonnay (Overnoy-Houillon) sold for €1,252 (+64%), while a bottle of Arbois Cuvée Marc from Jean-Marc Brignot reached €1,017 (+66%).
Several other Jura wines also exceeded their current price estimate. A bottle of 2018 I need the Sun by Kenjiro Kagami, for instance, sold for €689 (+10%), while a 2005 Côtes du Jura Cuvée du Pépé from Ganevat achieved €551 (+7%).
