Burgundy and Bordeaux, Tuscany and Piedmont: the “champions” of the Bolaffi and Wannenes auctions

The end of May dedicated to wine collectors, with the two auctions, Bolaffi and Wannenes, recorded with positive results and important wins, featuring the big names of wine from France, Italy and beyond. Two magnums of Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1996 Henri Jayer sold for 55,000 euros, two bottles of Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 2001 for 35,000 euros, a bottle of Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1996 for 12,500 euros, but also three bottles of La Tâche 1989 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti at 11,250 euros, a bottle of La Romanée 2010 Comte Liger Belair at 5,000 euros and a bottle of Ermitage Cuvée Cathelin 1990 Domaine JL Chave at 6,875 euros, on the French side; two lots of 12 bottles each of Le Pergole Torte 1996 by Montevertine at 4,250 euros and 3,750 euros, four bottles of Masseto from 1995 to 2001 at 3,250 euros, and 12 bottles of Solaia 2000 by Antinori at 3,250 euros, and again one magnum and three bottles of Barolo Monfortino Riserva 2013 Giacomo Conterno, at 4,000 euros and 3,250 euros: here are the top lots of the Bolaffi auction, held in “web live” mode, on 22 and 23 May, which collected 1.2 million euros in proceeds (including royalties), with over 93% of the lots awarded, on a total of 1,150 proposed. But, on May 22, the Wannenes catalogue, made up of 339 lots, also went under the virtual hammer, again in a live “online” version: it raised 200,000 euros: looking at the wine, the top lots were the one with 24 bottles of Sassicaia (equally divided between the 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 vintages) for 6,000 euros, the one with 2 bottles of Richebourg Grand Cru 1998 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti sold for 3,500 euros, the 3 bottles of Barolo Monfortino Riserva 2002 by Giacomo Conterno, at 1,900 euros; although the absolute top lot, from Wannenes, was the 6 bottles of Macallan 1947 Pure Highland Malt Scotch Whiskey Campbell Hope & King, sold for 12,000 euros, despite the incomplete label on 4 bottles (while individual bottles of 1946 were sold at 4,000 euros each).