FRENCH WINES ARE HANDS DOWN THE TOP EARNERS AT THE PANDOLFINI AUCTION HELD DURING THE INAUGURATION OF THE ESPRESSO WINE GUIDE 2008 IN FLORENCE. EARNINGS REACHED 180,000 EUROS THANKS TO THE WINES FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ALPS

If wine auctions were used as the only indicators of the trends among wine enthusiasts, then Italy would be in a bit of trouble at the moment. The Pandolfini wine auction that was held recently during the inaugural events for the Espresso’s 2008 wine guide in Florence, demonstrated a much higher interest in French wines among collectors even though some of the top Italian names were available on the auctioning block. And the 180,000 euros that were earned during the auction were mostly thanks to the French wines that received some head spinning bids.

For one French lot alone, bidding started at 14,000 euros: a vertical collection of 50 bottles of Mouton Rotschild, spanning vintages from 1957 to 2004, and with labels designed by such artists as Picasso, Matisse, Warhol and Kandinsky. There was also a magnum of La Tache di Domaine de la Romanée Conti 2003 that was sold for an impressive 4,700 euros.
Six liters of Chateau d'Yquem,1990 went for 3,300 euros; a double magnum of Chateau Margaux 1959, 3,700 euros; a selection of four wines from Bordeaux, 1945 (Chateau Margaux, Chateau Latour, Chateau Lafite, Chateau Haut-Brion) that also reached 4,700 euros; a Romanée Conti de la Romanée Conti 1988 for 4,400 euros and a 1980 for 3,900 euros; three bottles of Chateau Petrus 1994 for 1,900 euros, a double magnum of Chateau Margaux 1959 at 3,700 euros; 4,700 euros for another selection of four Bordeaux 1945 (Chateau Margaux, Latour, Lafite, Haut Brion).

As for Italian wines, the top sellers were a magnum of Rocca di Frassinello 2005 at 950 euros (autographed by Renzo Piano, the architect of the winery at Rocca di Frassinello di Paolo Panerai); a lot of 12 bottles of Ornellaia 1997 and 1998 at 1,800 euros; a double magnum of Solaia Antinori 1997 at 1,050 euros; five liters of Sperss 1997 by Gaja at 1,400 euros and 10 bottles of the same wine from 1990 at 1,650 euros; for 900 euros, six liters of Lupicaia Castello del Terriccio 2003, were taken; a nine bottle lot of Sassicaia della Tenuta di San Guido 1994-1995-1997, was sold at 1,400 euros; and 12 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino "Case Basse" Riserva Soldera 1993-1994, for 1,150 euros; again Soldera, with two magnums of Brunello di Montalcino 1986 at 800 euros; three bottles of Barolo Monfortino Giacomo Conterno 1990 at 1,100 euros.
And the top selling wine for Italy was the lot of six bottles of I Sodi di San Niccolò Castellare di Castellina 1982-1985-1986, that reached a high 2,850 euros.