November 7, 2024 – Eight extremely rare bottles of Bordeaux wine are set to go under the hammer at the Danish auction house Bruun Rasmussen Auctioneers on 5 December. We are, of course, referring to the iconic Château Cheval Blanc 1947, a wine described by the auction house as one of the most legendary and coveted wines in the world. The estimate is DKK 300,000–400,000.
Wine lovers and collectors will soon have a unique opportunity to secure not just one, but eight bottles of one of the world’s most legendary wines, when Bruun Rasmussen presents the rare and coveted Château Cheval Blanc 1947 at their Online Auction in December.
According to Thomas Rosendahl Andersen, wine specialist and head of department at Bruun Rasmussen, this wine’s exceptional quality, history and scarcity have elevated it to near-mythical status.
“Château Cheval Blanc 1947 exemplifies a wine that has achieved almost cult status among collectors. Representing a singular period in the viticultural history of Bordeaux, the wine’s craftsmanship cannot be reproduced. As the vintage was produced over 70 years ago, there are very few bottles left, making it extremely rare,” says Thomas Rosendahl Andersen.
A milestone in the history of Bordeaux
Château Cheval Blanc has always been one of the most revered wine estates in Saint-Émilion, one of Bordeaux’s premier wine regions. The 1947 vintage is considered a milestone, symbolising the magnificence of 20th century Bordeaux winemaking.
“The production methods used to make Château Cheval Blanc 1947 were very different and predate modern winemaking technologies such as temperature-controlled fermentation. Though challenging, these limitations imbued the wine with a distinctive character that modern vintages cannot match,” explains Thomas Rosendahl Andersen
1947 was also a year characterised by extreme weather conditions in the Bordeaux region, with an unusually hot summer. The combination of high temperatures and drought conditions resulted in highly concentrated, sugar-rich grapes at many vineyards. This yielded wines notable for their intensity and sweetness. Thomas Rosendahl Andersen notes that these factors combined have made this vintage truly exceptional.
“Château Cheval Blanc 1947 demonstrates perfectly how nature’s caprices can produce wine of unmatched excellence,” he says.
Rare hammer prices
With only a handful of bottles sold globally each year, the wine’s rarity is evident. In February, two bottles of Château Cheval Blanc 1947 were sold at the American auction house Heritage Auctions for $16,605, while at the British auction house Christies, a single bottle was sold in June for $15,111.
In a year that has seen just two other sales worldwide, Bruun Rasmussen now offers collectors a third chance to acquire this legendary Bordeaux.
Following Sotheby’s sale of six bottles of Château Cheval Blanc 1947 in November 2023, this marks the first opportunity in two years to bid on eight bottles of this wine as a single lot.
The eight bottles of Château Cheval Blanc 1947 will be auctioned together and are estimated at DKK 300,000–400,000. The auction takes place online on Bruun Rasmussen’s website, with bidding closing on 5 December.
About Bruun Rasmussen
Bruun Rasmussen has since 1948 sold art, design, jewellery, wristwatches, antiques and collectibles such as wine, books, coins and stamps. As the leading auction house in Denmark, we sell over 75,000 items every year at our Online Auctions at bruun-rasmussen.dk and at Live Auctions at our auction house in Lyngby.
Our specialists are the most experienced and competent in the industry. The work in the auction house places great demands on our knowledge of art and trends on the market. This way, we can provide valuations and advice of the highest quality – which has become our trademark – and thereby offer the best lots from all categories and achieve high hammer prices for the benefit of our customers.
At Bruun Rasmussen, we are one of Europe’s most modern and digital auction houses, and it is only natural for us to adapt to changes in the market. Innovation is part of our DNA, while we are also deeply rooted in our history.
In 2022, after having been family-owned through three generations, we became part of the international “Bonhams Network”, expanding our global reach and access to specialists all over the world. We strategically present and sell art where it makes the most sense in relation to potential buyers.
