Geneva, 24 June 2024 – Baghera/wines, an auctioneer renowned for its expertise in fine collectible wines, is delighted to announce the resounding success of its “Dear Pebbles” sale, which took place in the cellars of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou in St-Julien – Médoc on Sunday 23 June 2024. Dedicated to connoisseurs and collectors of rare and exceptional Bordeaux wines, the auction surpassed all expectations, achieving a total of €1,852,692/CHF 1,778,584/$1,982,380.
A selection of rare vintages of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou – including 1945, 1953, 1959, 1961, 1982, 2022 and 2023 – attracted particular attention, testifying to wine lovers’ passion for these treasures of Bordeaux production. The sale confirms not only Baghera/wines’ position as a leader in the fine wine collectibles market, but also the enduring appeal of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou’s exceptional terroir. Live-streamed from the Château’s cellars, the sale significantly exceeded its lowest estimate.
The auction’s star lot 289, a 225-liter barrel from the 2022 vintage of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, far exceeded its lowest estimate – selling for €54,900 – and won the lucky buyer a dinner at the Château for six people, in the company of the owner, Mr Bruno-Eugène Borie. Another top lot, number 321, a set of six bottles of 1953 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, went under the hammer at €36,600, presented in wooden crates specially made for the occasion. Of particular note was the remarkable result of a 1945 vintage magnum Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, which sold for €21,960, six times its lowest estimate. The top ten wines alone fetched almost €300,000, one-sixth of the total value of the sale.
Following the sale, Virginie Maison, auctioneer for Baghera/wines France, and Julie Carpentier, co-founder of Baghera/wines, said: “Following the Dear Pebbles sale on 23 June 2024, held in the cellars of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, we would like to express our deep gratitude to Bruno-Eugène Borie for his unfailing trust. The auction highlighted the exceptional vintages of Ducru-Beaucaillou, celebrating 300 years of this prestigious estate. Preparations for the sale took months and the promotional process was marked by gourmet dinners organized around the world along with the creation of an exceptional boxed set containing the two volumes of the sale catalog as well as a commemorative book. Our teams were totally committed to this inaugural sale on French soil. We would like to extend our warmest thanks to all the enthusiasts and collectors for their enthusiasm and confidence. Thanks to them, the event was a resounding success, showcasing bottles of a rare quality and paying tribute to the remarkable heritage of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou.”
Bruno-Eugène Borie, owner/resident of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou added: “I am deeply honored and moved by the exceptional outcome of the Dear Pebbles auction. The event not only showcased Bordeaux wines, but also confirmed Château Ducru-Beaucaillou’s special place in the hearts of connoisseurs of fine vintages. Finally, it gave us an opportunity to mark the 300thanniversary of the Château in style, a celebration that we had had to postpone due to COVID.
This success is a true celebration of our ongoing commitment to quality, authenticity and innovation. I would like to express my deep gratitude to all our dedicated teams who have worked so hard on this project. The auction has enabled us to pay tribute to all those who came before me at the Château and added their ‘stone’ to this magnificent edifice, notably the Johnstons, and closer to home, my grandfather and my father. Many thanks also to the Baghera/wines team, in particular Michael Ganne and Julie Carpentier, for their remarkable work. If any testimony were needed, this was further proof that wine brings people together and makes them happy!”
Live-streamed worldwide, the sale attracted a great deal of interest, particularly in Asia, where VIP relays were set up by Baghera/wines. These enabled enthusiasts to take part in gourmet dinners while bidding on the most prestigious lots. Cities such as Taipei, Singapore and Bangkok welcomed groups of enthusiasts, who went home with a large proportion of the lots available. Overall, the sale attracted buyers from across Asia, Europe, the United States and South America.
Baghera/wines is Europe’s leading auctioneer of exceptional wines and spirits, with teams ¥ renowned for their legitimacy, the precision of their expertise and their unfailing skills.
TOP TEN DEAR PEBBLES BY BAGHERA WINES
ABOUT BAGHERA/WINES, EXPERTS IN EXCEPTIONAL WINES
European leader in rare wine auctions based in Geneva, Baghera/wines offers a new approach to auctions of exceptional vintages by placing conviviality and sharing at the heart of their events. For the past five years, passionate experts Michael Ganne and Julie Carpentier have developed a bureau dedicated exclusively to rare wines, and which guides collectors in all aspects of enhancing the value of a collection.
In 2018-19, the historic auction of Henri Jayer’s personal cellar, to date the world’s most important wine auction ever (CHF 34.5M), followed by an unprecedented auction exclusively dedicated to the wines of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and then by the final bottles from Domaine René Engel, propelled Baghera/wines to the position of European leader in wine auctions.
The experienced team working with Baghera/wines’ experts offers excellent tailor-made professional advice to international collectors passionate about rare fine wines including the organization of master classes, as well as careful selection of wines for private tastings, dinners and events combining music and wine. In September 2020, Baghera/wines officially inaugurated its new Geneva establishment, incorporating a private club and boutique dedicated to fine wines, within the Beau-Rivage hotel, Geneva. In October 2022, the company further developed its activities in Asia, with the opening of Baghera/wines Singapore Ltd. in Singapore. The entity began holding physical and online auctions from December 2022. In 2023, Baghera/wines France was set up to organize auctions in France, and a second club dedicated to collectors and events was inaugurated in Nuits-St-Georges.
