HARD TO TALK ABOUT A CRISIS FOR COLLECTIBLE WINES ACCORDING TO THE GELARDINI & ROMANI WINE AUCTION, THE TOP AUCTION HOUSE IN ITALY SPECIALIZED IN WINE. STELLAR BIDS RECEIVED FOR MASSETO TENUTA DELL’ORNELLAIA 2001 AND ROMANEE CONTI LA TACHE 1942-1943

It seems that at least collectible wines have managed to remain unaffected by the current economic crisis according to the results of the Gelardini & Romani Wine Auction held last March 14th in Rome. The top auction house for Italian wines since 2004 earned 119% of its value for a total of 143,000 euros, with an average per lot increase of 47% due to lots reaching truly stellar sums.
This was the case with 6 bottles of Masseto della Tenuta dell’Ornellaia 2001 that went for a bid of 3,953 euros, the 3 bottles of Romanèe Conti la Tache 1942 that went for 3,234 euros, 3 bottles of Romanèe Conti La Tache 1943 for 3,234 euros. Other interesting bids were made for 3 bottles of Corton Charlemagne Coche Dury 1995 that went for 2,875 euros, 6 bottles of Sauternes Château d’Yquem 1997 for 2,796 euros, 1 bottle of Romanée Conti La Tache 2005 for 2,396 euros, 3 bottles of Corton Charlemagne Coche Dury 2004 for 2,156 euros, 1 bottle of Romanée Conti Romanèe St Vivant 2005 for 2,156 euros, 3 bottles of Masseto 2006 “en primeur” from the Tenuta dell’Ornellaia for 1,817 euros, and 1 bottle of Romanée Conti La Tache 2003 that went for 1,797 euros.

”We are the first ones to be surprised by this extraordinary result” – explained Raimondo Romani, head of the Roman auction house – “if we take into consideration the general context of the economy. On the other hand, however, this auction has given us further confirmation that, overall, the collectible wines market continues to be solid and, from our point of view on the market, demand is growing”.
And this appeared to be for other wines as well like the Super Tuscans Masseto, le Pergole Torte, Oreno, Messorio, Desiderio, Tignanello, Solaia, Ornellaia, Sassicaia Giramonte, which have become increasingly important protagonists of the international collectible wines market.

There was also the usual high demand for Burgundy from the Cote de Nuits, in particular the Pinot Noir by Emmanuel Rouget and Gilles Jayer as well as for the Grand Cru Domaine de la Romanée Conti and Corton Charlemagne di Coche Dury. Requests for some Chateauneuf-du-Pape and Riesling from Mosella are also continuing to grow. And some signs of a return for Brunello di Montalcino have been registered, partially due to its excellent 2004 vitnage that has been released