Magnums, double-magnums, jeroboams and imperials have been the main focus of attention in the last Online Auction that ended on the 8th of July. These generous formats benefit from a price premium compared to 75cl bottles.
Bottling larger formats enables wineries to create a scarcity effect on wines that are not otherwise rare, as it is the case for large estates of Medoc. This effect is intensified by the quality of the vintage and the age of the bottle. In this first Online Auction of July, Château Mouton Rothschild perfectly illustrated this situation with an Imperial of 1989 sold for €2,880, an increase of 36% compared to the iDealwine estimate for 75cl bottle. Large formats of less prestigious vintages also sold with an important premium: a double-magnum of the same first growth was sold to a Russian amateur for €4,800 (+21%). In the meantime a magnum of a lesser vintage, 1992 from Château Margaux, sold for €640 (+37%). Large formats and original wooden cases benefit from a premium, especially in more sought after vintages. For instance a case of 1985 Château la Mission Haut-Brion was sold to a Danish amateur for €2,388, equivalent to €199 a bottle (+27%).
Still in Bordeaux, but back to the traditional bottle format, it is worth noting that Château Palmer is soaring and overall relatively scarce in France. Petrus is always much sought after, even by French professionals, who are also looking for recent vintages of the famous Pomerol. The 2012 sold for €1,920 up 10% and the 2011 for €1,800, up 24%.
As for Burgundy, Domaine Leroy tops the podium as one could expect with outstanding increases: 49% for a Clos de Vougeot 2000, sold for €612. These results are even more compelling when looking at white wine: a 1998 Meursault Goutte d’Or boosted up to €780 (+77%). Among other sales, it is worth noting that the price of a magnum of 1999 Clos de Tart reached €660 therefore increasing its current price estimate by 18%. Other names should be followed with attention such as Domaine Groffier whose Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses 2001 managed to reach €201, up 62%. The 2005 vintage was sold for €312, up 28%.
The Rhône Valley was fiercely represented by the Châteauneuf-du-Pape denomination. A double magnum of the flagship wine for Domaine Pegaü, Cuvée Da Capo, was sold €948 to an amateur from Honk Kong. Furthermore, a magnum from the Cuvée Sanctus Sanctorum of the Clos de Saint-Jean was sold for €900.
Amongst other regions, a jeroboam of 1999 Cristal reached €1,380 while a double magnum from Domaine de Trévallon 2007 sold for €324, a 31% increase on iDealwine price estimate.
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