Rare Burgundy wines attract competitive bidding at Christie’s sale

A selection of rare Burgundy wines from the 1960s from de Vogue attracted competitive bidding at a recent Christie's sale, with the top lot raising nearly eight times its pre-sale estimates. The Christie's Fine and Rare Wines & Spirits Online: London Edition, which closed last week, saw bidders scramble to bid for the top lots, including a selection of wines from a Parisian Cellar. These comprised three vintages from Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, the famed Burgundy estate which dates back to the 1450s. This included the Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, Bonnes Mares 1962 (lot 150), Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, Musigny, Cuvèe Vieilles Vignes 1966 (lot 154) and a Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, Musigny, Cuvèe Vieilles Vignes 1961  (lot 153). These sold extremely well -  the Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, Bonnes Mares 1962 achieved £47,500 - nearly eight times its low pre-sale estimate (£6,000-£9,000), while the Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, Musigny, Cuvèe Vieilles Vignes 1966 achieved £35,000 against its pre-sale estimate of £4,800-£6,000. Completing the trio, the Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé, Musigny, Cuvèe Vieilles Vignes 1961 nearly doubled its high-estimate, achieving £27,500 against an estimate of £9,500-£14,000. The auction house said this result "demonstrated the strength of Christie’s in presenting private collections with impeccable provenance". "These rare Burgundy wines from de Vogue are certainly attracting bidders to compete for the lots," it said. Other highlights from the sale included two full 12 bottle cases of white Burgundy from the Avishays Cellar vintages, in mind condition from vintages that are rarely seen on the market nowadays: a Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet, Clavoillon 1986 & 1991, which both achieved £8,750 against estimates of £1,800-£2,400 and £1,300-£1,800 respectively. The sale also included the third part of the single-owner Dr Botenga collection - following Parts 1 and 2, which were held in Hong Kong and London last year, which together raised nearly £8million (£7,955,512). The top lot from part 3 comprised a single jeroboam of Château Gruaud-Larose 1982 which sold for £3,000 (almost double its low estimate of  £1,600 - £ 2,000), and two magnums of Petrus 1975, which achieved £9,375, against a pre-sale estimate of £5,500 - £6,500. Overall, the sale - Christie's first sale of 2025 - achieved a total of £1.214million, and was 89% sold by lot.