12,000 EUROS FOR 12 BOTTLES OF DOMAINE DE LA ROMANEE CONTI 2003. THE TOP SALES AT THE PANDOLFINI WINE AUCTION, ORGANIZED FOR THE PRESENTATION OF THE 2006 ESPRESSO GUIDE. 110,000 EUROS RAISED

12,000 euros for an assortment of 12 bottles of Domaine de la Romanèe Conti 2003 (Romanee de Romanee, La Tache, Romanèe Saint Vivant, Echezeau, Grands-Echezeau e Richebourg). This was the top bid at the Pandolfini auction held recently in Florence for the presentation of the “Vini d’Italia 2006” Espresso guide. 125 lots and over 700 wines went for a total of 110,000 euros.

The lion’s share naturally went for French wines, but there were good returns for some Italian wines as well, like for the Sassicaia Castellare di Castellina e Barolo Monfortino Giacomo Conterno.
Among the wines from beyond the Alps, a Chateau Mouton Rotschild del 1948 was sold for 1,050 euros, a selection of 4 bottles of Bourdeaux (Chateau Margaux, Chateau Mouton Rotschild, Chateau Latour e Chateau Lafite Rotschild) from 1959 for 2,200 euros, and an assortment of 6 premier cru Bordeaux (Chateau Latour, Chateau Margaux, Chateau Lafite Rotschild, Chateau Haut-Brion e Chateau Mouton Rotschild) from 1961 went for 2,700 euros. Three ‘pieces’ of Chateau Lafite Rotschild 1959 got a bid for 2,100 euros, while another lot of 3 bottles of Chauteau Haut-Brion 1961 went for 1,650 euros. Another 1,000 euros were earned for 4 splendid bottles of Chateau d'Yquem 1990.

On the Italian front, Tuscany was in command with 6 bottles of Sassicaia Tenuta San Guido 1972, that went for 3,200 euros, and another 4 bottles from 1974 sold for 2,500 euros. Six bottles of I Sodi di San Niccolò di Castellare di Castellina, 1981, 1982, and 1985 also went for 2,500 euros. An enthusiast made a top bid of 1,150 euros for 12 bottles of Ornellaia 1997 and 1998. There was also a good result for the lot of 6 bottles of Barolo Riserva Monfortino 1961, which went for 2,000. And the Barolo Riserva Falletto 1996 red label by Bruno Giacosa was sold at 900 euros.
It should also be noted that two special lots from the Marchesi Antinori (including 6 bottles of Solaia 1990, 1994 – 1999, and 3 magnums of Solaia 1997, Pian delle Vigne e Guado al Tasso) were taken at the prices of 800 and 900 euros, and whose earnings will go to the Virginia Iorca Onlus Association to help finance their project titled Solidarity Wine.