Burgundy's flagship wine event exceeded all expectations at its 160th edition. Held on Sunday, December 13, 2020 instead of the third Sunday in November, the event appealed to buyers around the world. In particular that of the presidents' coin, which paid € 660,000 for 228 liters of grand cru. An absolute record. "Our climates have conquered the climate."The manager of the Hospices de Beaune estate Ludivine Griveau set the tone in the introduction of this 160th hospices de Beaune auction, organized Sunday, December 13, 2020 after a postponement of one month. A way to defend its primeur wines, whose quality promises to be exceptional despite the extreme weather conditions in the vineyards this year. A way also to approach with combativeness this edition part of a bad step.
Absolute record
It must be said that after the cancellation of the festive events of the weekend, the auctions themselves almost fell by the wayside. After long talks with the state, the charity sale was finally able to take place in a "restricted" format. Namely 170 buyers instead of 600, the others having to participate by phone or online. And strict sanitary measures governing the conduct of these auctions orchestrated by Christie's. An atmosphere not conducive to business, and yet… Around 4:30 p.m., the hammer blow falls, triggering a thunderous applause: the charity coin has just been sold for 660,000 euros, plus 120,000 donations. That's 780,000 euros in total. All for the benefit of more than 1000 caregivers affected by Covid, and their families. https://twitter.com/fredvalletoux/status/1338156022008057858?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1338156022008057858%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpublish.twitter.com%2F%3Fquery%3Dhttps3A2F2Ftwitter.com2Ffredvalletoux2Fstatus2F1338156022008057858widget%3DTweet After a disputed auction, it is a Chinese – anonymous – who wins the jackpot, a barrel of Clos de la Roche Grand Cru. As little as we know, he is a friend of Albéric Bichot. The director of the house Albert Bichot will have served as an intermediary in this acquisition. It is also in its cellars that the cuvée will finish its ageing.
"Beyond the absolute record for the Presidents' Room,
there is the symbolic force of the result"
François Poher, Director of the Hospices Civils de Beaune
From the giant screen of the Halles de Beaune, Marc Lavoine is on the verge of tears. The singer, godfather of this charity piece, had the mission to raise as much money as possible. He promised everything to the different bidders: a lunch with him, his guitar… It is not known if this motivated the end buyer. But the result is there. The last record – 480000€ in 2015 – seems far away. 
And other figures are enough to make you dizzy: with €12,763,200 in revenue for 630 pieces, this is the second best total of all time for these auctions. Not to mention the record broken for nine vintages, including seven grands crus. A delight for all the organizers of the event, including François Poher, the director of the Hospices, and therefore of the Hospital of Beaune. Apart from the charity room, all the income from the sale will return as planned to his establishment. "Beyond the absolute record for the Presidents' Room, two feelings dominate on the evening of this sale: the recognition given to all the hospitalists who continue to fight day after day in the service of patients, and the symbolic force of the result of this sale for all burgundy who aspires to find better days as soon as possible. »
