Santenay 2011 Hospices de Beaune, Cuvée Christine Friedberg, 0,75l.

Santenay 2011 Hospices de Beaune, Cuvée Christine Friedberg, 0,75l.

The history of the “Hospices de Beaune”

The history of the Hospices de Beaune tradition goes back to the eponymous hospital for the poor and sick established in Beaune in the 15th century. Over the centuries, this hospice in the middle of the best vineyards in Burgundy received many of the best sites through donations and inheritances from well-off winegrowers and was soon able to cover its costs by selling wine. Even today, the proceeds from wine sales still benefit the hospital and other charitable organisations.

The event

And November is already approaching, with the traditional wine auction taking place on the third weekend of the year. On the evening before the auction, the wines are tasted by wine critics and wine merchants, while wine merchants and connoisseurs from all over the world travel to the auction itself. Tickets and the right to take part in the auction are highly coveted. On the third day, the traditional “Pauleé of Mersault” closes the event. The auctioned wines are left to mature in barrels for 18 to 24 months before being bottled and delivered two years later in autumn.

The “151st Hospices de Beaune 2011”

The vintage

In the meantime, there have been several preliminary reports on the 2011 Beaune vintage. According to these, the current vintage is one of the best of the last fifty years due to the early summer and mild temperatures, according to wine critics.

Hospices de Beaune Spécial

The committee of the “Hospices de Beaune Tradition” has announced a remarkable innovation for this year’s wine auction.

From 2011 onwards, only around 60% of the yield in the respective vintage will be released for auction, while the remaining 40% will be held back until the year of bottling and then auctioned, which should further fuel the high demand. Reservations for the first tranche are expected to be cheaper.