Languedoc-Roussillon: the top 20 highest-priced bottles at auction (first semester of 2018)

Palmares Languedoc Roussillon S1 2018 Grange des Peres As the first semester comes to the end, we take a look at the top bottles from the Languedoc-Roussillon at auction. Wines from this ancient winemaking region have known great success in the last few years. A break down of the bottles wooing at auction.

Languedoc

At first look not much seems to have changed for the Languedoc since last year. Hammer prices are more or less stable and the top 20 most expensive bottles of 2018 so far range from €219 to €36 (in 2017 this price range went from €216 to €30.

Yet, in just a few years the Languedoc has seen production levels (certainly for qualitative wines) shoot up. 20 years ago, wines from this region weren’t represented at auction as their small presence meant they couldn’t compete with the fine wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy. It also explains the lack of mature vintages in these rankings. Enthusiasts are becoming more and more erudite, seeking out the gems from lesser-known region and showing that they are not at all put off by these off the beaten track wines having a mere IGP (Vin de Pays) classification.

Similarly, to 2017, Grange des Pères is top dog in the Languedoc. Laurent Vaillé, who runs the domaine has previously worked at both Domaine de Trévallon and Coche-Dury. His biodynamic wines represent the most frequently sold lots from this region on our platform and a magnum of his rare 2011 white reached €420 last year. Silver medal goes to the talented Marlène Soria from Domaine Peyre-Rose who has climbed two places thanks to Robert Parker’s blessing.

Buyers are attracted by the leading domains of this region, responsible for the Languedoc’s new and exciting image. Such is the case for Domaine de Montcalmès, Mas Jullien, Domaine des Aurelles and Château La Voulte-Gasparets.

The Languedoc also owes its recent success to a heightened interest in organic, biodynamic and natural wines. Many domaines in this region practice environmentally responsible viticultural practices and their popularity translates into the rankings. The biodynamic Clos Marie and Gérard Bertrand take 12^th and 16^th place respectively in the top 20.

The Languedoc: top 20 highest-priced bottles of the first semester of 2018

Position	Lot	Colour	Lot price (incl. VAT)	Price (per 75cl bottle & incl. VAT)	Variation on price estimate (or reserve price)	Date of sale	Country of residence of winning bidder
1	Bottle of IGP Pays d’Hérault 1997 – Grange des Pères	Red	219 €	219 €	52%	17/05/2018	Hong Kong
2	Bottle of Ctx du Lgdc Clos des Cistes 1990 – Peyre-Rose	Red	195 €	195 €	22%	18/01/2018	Japan
3	Bottle of Ctx du Lgdc 1989 – Prieuré de St Jean de Bébian	Red	106 €	106 €	24%	14/06/2018	France
4	Bottle of Ctx du Lgdc Terrasses du Larzac 2007 – La Peira en Damaisela	Red	75 €	75 €	39%	18/01/2018	France
5	Magnum of Ctx du Lgdc Terrasses du Larzac 2005 – Mas Jullien	Red	136 €	68 €	23%	04/06/2018	France
6	Bottle of Ctx du Lgdc Terrasses du Larzac 2005 – Montcalmès	Red	67 €	67 €	30%	17/05/2018	France
7	2 bottles of Faugères Valinière 2009 – L. Barral	Red	128 €	64 €	11%	28/06/2018	France
8	3 bottles of Ctx du Lgdc La 40ème 2007 – Château Puech Haut	Red	182 €	61 €	22%	31/05/2018	France
9	2 bottles of IGP Pays du Gard 2005 – Roc d’Anglade	White	122 €	61 €	–	26/04/2018	United Kingdom
10	Bottle of Ctx du Lgdc Pic St-Loup 2005 – Ermitage du Pic Saint-Loup	Red	58 €	58 €	60%	26/04/2018	France
11	3 bottles of IGP St Guilhem-le-Désert Cité d’Aniane 1999 – Mas Daumas Gassac	Red	170 €	57 €	20%	19/04/2018	France
12	3 bottles of Ctx du Lgdc Pic St-Loup Les Glorieuses Françoise 2011 – Clos Marie	Red	164 €	55 €	–	14/06/2018	France
13	Bottle of Pézenas Lgdc Aurel 2009 – Domaine des Aurelles	Red	46 €	46 €	44%	15/02/2018	Korea
14	2 bottles of Les Brunes 2005 – Les Creisses	Red	85 €	43 €	40%	15/02/2018	France
15	Bottle of Los Abuelos 2002 – Terre inconnue	Red	41 €	41 €	21%	29/03/2018	France
16	Bottle of Languedoc L’Hospitalitas 2010 – G. Bertrand	Red	39 €	39 €	58%	15/02/2018	France
17	2 bottles of Languedoc Fitou 2008 – Bertrand-BeRedé	Red	73 €	36 €	20%	28/02/2018	France
18	2 bottles of Ctx du Lgdc Pic St-Loup Grande Cuvée 1998 – L’Hortus	Red	73 €	36 €	17%	18/01/2018	France
19	2 bottles of IGP Pays d’Hérault Le Pradel 2007 – Terrasse d’Elise	Red	73 €	36 €	11%	15/02/2018	France
20	2 bottles of Corbières Romain Pauc 1996 – Château La Voulte-Gasparets	Red	73 €	36 €	–	12/04/2018	United Kingdom

Roussillon

Further south lies Roussillon, a very accessible winemaking region with a rich viticultural history. The rankings from this region are populated with the most mythic domaines, including one domaine in particular that hasn’t moved from the top spot for quite some time! You might have guessed it, Clos des Fées and its prestigious La Petite Sibérie cuvée, bought by an Asian enthusiast for €274. Another superb domaine: Gauby and its flagship La Muntada cuvée in the 1998 vintage. Other producers to watch are Le Clos du Rouge Gorge and Olivier Pithon (brother of the Loire winemaker Jo Pithon) who produces top quality natural wines.

A large majority of these rankings are taken up by Vin Doux Naturel, in particular Rivesaltes, a wine that we’ve specialised in since 2005. For 13 years, we’ve witnessed the worth of these wines as a collectible item.

Roussillon: top 20 highest-priced bottles of the first semester of 2018

Position	Lot	Colour	Lot price (incl. VAT)	Price (per 75cl bottle & incl. VAT)	Variation on price estimate (or reserve price)	Date of sale	Country of residence of winning bidder
1	Bottle of Cts du Roussillon La Petite Sibérie 2001 – Clos des Fées	Red	274 €	274 €	16%	17/05/2018	Hong Kong
2	Bottle of Maury VDN 1925 – Coume Du Roy	White	161 €	161 €	23%	15/03/2018	Belgium
3	Bottle of Cts du Roussillon La Muntada 1998 – Gauby	Red	134 €	134 €	37%	15/02/2018	Martinique
4	Bottle of Rivesaltes 1945 – Château St Michel	Amber	128 €	128 €	76%	14/06/2018	France
5	Bottle of Rivesaltes 1945 – Château Mossé	Amber	116 €	116 €	59%	28/02/2018	Luxembourg
6	Bottle of Rivesaltes Cuvée Marcel Girves 1947 – Ste Croix	Amber	91 €	91 €	25%	15/03/2018	Spain
7	Bottle of Banyuls Pietri 1950 – Geraud	Amber	85 €	85 €	13%	31/05/2018	France
8	Bottle of Rivesaltes 1943 – Château Sisqueille	Amber	81 €	81 €	38%	24/05/2018	France
9	2 bottles of Maury 1954 – Mas Amiel	Amber	158 €	79 €	–	17/05/2018	France
10	Bottle of Rivesaltes Cuvée Aimée 1973 – Cazes	Amber	79 €	79 €	204%	03/05/2018	Belgium
11	Bottle of Rivesaltes 1961 – Château Las Collas	Amber	79 €	79 €	52%	14/06/2018	France
12	Bottle of Rivesaltes 1959 – G. Bertrand	Amber	79 €	79 €	20%	17/05/2018	France
13	Bottle of Banyuls Vieilles Vignes 1966 – Mas Blanc	Red	68 €	68 €	24%	31/01/2018	France
14	Bottle of Rivesaltes 1982 – La Fosseille	Amber	57 €	57 €	84%	14/06/2018	France
15	Bottle of Rivesaltes 1960 – Lacresse	Amber	56 €	56 €	15%	24/05/2018	France
16	2 bottles of Rivesaltes 1961 – Ste Lucie	Amber	97 €	49 €	–	14/06/2018	France
17	Bottle of Banyuls Vin De Meditation – La Tour Vieille	Amber	44 €	44 €	20%	15/02/2018	France
18	Bottle of Rivesaltes 1977 – Chapoutier	Amber	40 €	40 €	49%	17/05/2018	Italy
19	Bottle of IGP Côtes Catalanes 2011 – Clos du Rouge GoRede	White	38 €	38 €	9%	28/06/2018	France
20	Bottle of IGP Côtes Catalanes La D18 2014 – O. Pithon	White	35 €	35 €	5%	31/05/2018	France