Go big or go home – that seemed to be the motto that wine enthusiasts followed while battling it out at auction in June. Last month’s auctions highlighted iDealwine’s global and varied buyer profiles as well as their eclecticism. In an uncertain economic climate, they favoured fine wine from the world’s greatest wine regions, while remaining exacting and meticulous in their choices.

Once again, rarity was the key factor for Burgundian wines. Wine enthusiasts seemed to go over the auction catalogues with a fine-toothcomb to dig out the treasures that are currently missing from their collections. Alongside two bottles of Romanée-Conti, which were auctioned for €15,650 (for a 2017, -4%) and €10,016 (for a 1986, a stable price), respectively, La Tâche Grand Cru stood out with several mature vintages recording notable increases (€4,883 for a 1985, +44% and €2,779 for a 1992, +17%). A more unknown brilliant producer also shone at auction last month. For anyone who is a fan of Henri Jayer and has followed his story closely, the name Cécile Tremblay will be familiar as she is the winemaker’s grand-niece. She created her estate in 2003 when she took over her grandparents’ small plots of vines dotted around the most prestigious Côte de Nuits appellations. Classed as an Auction Star in the most recent iDealwine Barometer, her success has known no bounds in recent weeks with the Chapelle-Chambertin Grand Cru stealing the limelight. A bottle from 2015 went under the hammer for €1,427 (+20%) and a bottle from 2010 sold for €1,252 (+37%). Also extremely sought-after, the estate’s rare Échézeaux obtained €1,377 for the 2015 vintage and €1,064 for the 2012. Her 2015 Les Feusselottes Premier Cru from Chambolle-Musigny went for €701 (+7%) , while a bottle of 2015 Vosne-Romanée Les Rouges sold for €689 (+21%). The vines that Cécile Tremblay tends to in Nuits-Saint-Georges were also represented by a 2010 Les Murgers Premier Cru which was auctioned for €488 (+21%).

Wine enthusiasts were also very selective of the Bordeaux bottles they bid on. June was all about beautiful mature vintages. Their choices centred around “vintages of the century” such as 1959 (Château Latour, €2,379, +33%), 1989 (Petrus, €3,443, +12%), and  2000 (Mouton Rothschild as a magnum, €1,640, +5%). Bidders also identified the properties that produced magical wines in vintages that didn’t go down in history. An example of this would be the 1983 Pichon Lalande, which sold for €188 (+10%). The cult 2001 Sauternes vintage was led by Château d’Yquem, which saw a magnum go for €1,377 (+6%).

Moving onto the Loire Valley now, bottles from Clos Rougeard took centre stage. While the prices of its red wines remain relatively stable, several vintages of the white Brézé saw their prices take off. For example, a bottle from 2010 was auctioned for €275 (+11%). Rare bottles produced by Aurélien Lefort in Auvergne captivated their audience. The 2020 BabaCool went under the hammer for €338 (+35%) and a 2019 Brave de Traque obtained €313 (+36%).

For the Alsace wine region, the wines from Trimbach saw much competition last month. Its crown jewel, the Riesling Clos Sainte-Hune, was sold for €250 for the 1996 vintage and several vintages of the wine Frédéric Emile were also present, both as bottles and magnums. Among the latter, a 2004 was auctioned for €175 (+18%) and a 2002 for €150 (+23%).

In the Rhône Valley, which has seen months of price readjustment, Château Rayas saw the tables turn and its prices increase throughout the last quarter. A 2005 broke the €1,000 barrier, selling for €1052 (+33%) and several other vintages missed this benchmark by a hair’s breadth: 1998 (€964, +5%), 2009 (€939, +16%), and 2007 (€939, +19%). Guigal’s La-La-La trilogy from the Côte-Rôtie appellation stoked plenty of interest at auctions and it’s not dying down neither. A 1990 La Mouline was sold for €776 (+6%) and a 1991 La Turque went for €714 (+4%).

For Champagne lots, wine enthusiasts remain highly passionate. They were all trying to get their hands on the great classics such as those from Krug (1990 Clos du Mesnil, €1,753), Roederer (€1,127 for a magnum of 2012 Cristal, +17%) and Dom Pérignon (€889 for the 1986 Brut, +44%). And they didn’t leave out Grower Champagnes either! Cédric Bouchard (Roses de Jeanne Le Creux d’Enfer 2012, €889, +112%), Ulysse Collin, Marguet, Lurquin, and Marie-Noëlle Ledru all proved to be highly popular! Selosse’s iconic 2009 Extra-Brut Premier Cru also stole their hearts and eventually went under the hammer for €1,252 (+6%).

Is wine becoming a refuge for enthusiasts in uncertain climes? It seems to be that way as long as you’re selective and remain on the lookout for treasures.

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