Meursault, February 11, 2025 – A new auction at the estate marks the start of the year for Baghera/wines. Nestled in the heart of the Côte de Beaune, on the hillside, the Domaine François Gaunoux spans harmoniously across twelve hectares, fully owned. Baghera/wines is pleased to announce a public auction in collaboration with Domaine François Gaunoux, which will take place at the estate in Meursault, Côte-d’Or on March 16, 2025. The auction will feature approximately 110 hand-selected lots, spanning vintages from 1897 to 2003, across twelve prestigious appellations such Meursault Goutte d’Or, Bâtard-Montrachet, Pommard Rugiens, Volnay Clos des Chênes. None of these wines have ever left the estate. The auction will take place in a single session: the sale will begin at 12 PM, CET, at the magnificent Gaunoux family château.
Four generations (almost five) of fierce respect for traditions and reasoned innovation
Tracing back to the 16th century, the first traces of the Gaunoux family’s presence in Burgundy can already be found. Since then, the family has continuously showcased its exceptional know-how through the generations. Determined to highlight the richness of the Burgundy terroirs.
Over time, the estate has gradually built a reputation for excellence, notably through meticulous vineyard management, but also through careful winemaking and a deep respect for the environment. Today, the estate, under the leadership of Claudine Gaunoux, the daughter of François and granddaughter of Henri, continues the family legacy by preserving the authenticity of each terroir. The distinctiveness and uniqueness of the wines stem from the perfect balance the Gaunoux family has crafted, combining tradition with modern techniques. Today, an undisputed reference in the production of Grand Cru wines from Burgundy, each bottle from Domaine Gaunoux combines finesse and complexity. These wines are tangible witnesses, telling the story of a unique know-how, passed down from generation to generation.
Claudine Gaunoux, owner of the estate, comments on the auction: “ In our world, only authentic values and extreme dedication matter. It was quite natural for us to get closer to Michael Ganne and his teams at Baghera/wines to showcase Gaunoux wines during this auction, directly at our estate. This auction represents the culmination of the work of my grandfather, as well as my father, whose efforts have been crowned with success. Our wines are recognized worldwide, and this is our way of honoring the family legacy that we continue to cultivate.”
Michael Ganne, Founder of Baghera/wines, and Virginie Maison, auctioneer for the sale, emphasize: “ For this second auction on French soil, we are presenting, alongside the wines from Domaine Gaunoux, a precious part of Burgundy’s viticultural heritage. This auction is not simply a sale, but a meeting with the history and soul of this estate. We see it as a tribute to the passion that spans generations. For Baghera/wines, presenting these bottles carrying such a great tradition is also about making a bit of this exceptional know-how accessible to the greatest number. Having had the chance to taste several old vintages available in the sale, these are wines full of emotion that retain a youthfulness worthy of the greatest winemakers’ cellars.”
A jewel of an auction: A few lots from internationally renowned appellations Domaine Gaunoux
Located in the iconic Meursault appellation in the Côte de Beaune, champions the art of viticulture in Burgundy. A rich range of appellations illustrates the complexity of this terroir – the auction covers twelve appellations, including Grand Crus and Premier Crus. Among the most famous are: Pommard ‘Rugiens’, a star Premier Cru of the Pommard commune, as well as the sought-after appellations of Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet, Pommard, and Volnay, prized for their rarity and finesse.
The auction ‘DOMAINE FRANÇOIS GAUNOUX – Climats de Famille’ showcases all the characteristics of the high-end auctions organized by Baghera/wines. It offers a selection of highly sought-after old vintages as well as a remarkable collection of more recent wines, which stand out for being ready to drink. Each bottle produced by Domaine Gaunoux is a true tribute to the terroir: power and balance serve as ambassadors of a work that harmonizes tradition and innovation.
Indeed, the harvests are manual, as is the majority of the work carried out in the vineyards by Claudine Gaunoux and her team. A unique feature of the estate: fermentation and aging take place entirely in 100% stainless steel tanks. This attests to the pioneering and innovative spirit of the Gaunoux family, who were right to take this bet on time and life.
The meticulous work carried out at every stage of production makes Domaine Gaunoux an essential player, continuing to produce wines that stand out on the global stage, offering a complete immersion in the heart of pure Burgundy.
Auction at the estate:
DOMAINE FRANÇOIS GAUNOUX – Climats de Famille
Au cœur de la Côte de Beaune, un siècle de vins d’exception
As usual, Baghera/wines will offer an auction made up of a selection of 110 carefully preserved lots, according to strict standards. Their perfect traceability and excellent storage conditions make them a top choice for any discerning collector. This aspect is crucial, particularly for the few rare old vintages with unparalleled rarity.
1897, 1900, 1904, 1908, 1918, 1926, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1934, 1937, 1942, 1945, 1947, 1949, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2003.
Baghera/wines lives up to its reputation and presents an auction with exceptional provenance, straight from the cellars of Domaine Gaunoux. The quality, storage, and preservation conditions are unparalleled. Baghera/wines ensures the provenance and exceptional quality of the wines it offers for sale, relying on the expertise of its specialists, among the most experienced in the world.
Highlights of the auction at the estate:
– Lot 4 : Meursault « Goutte d’Or » Premier Cru – 1970 – 1 magnum – € 1’200 – 2’400
– Lot 21 : Pommard « Rugiens » Premier Cru – 1897 – 1 bottle – € 3’000 – 6’000
– Lot 30 : Pommard « Rugiens » Premier Cru – 1932 – 1 bottle – € 1’600 – 3’200
The auction includes: 259 bottles and 2 magnums
Key data for the estate auction by Baghera/wines:
Auction date: Sunday, March 16, 2025 – 12:00 PM CET
Number of lots: 110
Physical auction at the estate : open to the public – also streamed live for the international audience
Online catalogue accessibility: on www.bagherawines.com
ABOUT BAGHERA/WINES, EXPERT BUREAU FOR EXCEPTIONAL WINES
As Europe’s leading auction house for rare wines, based in Geneva, Baghera/wines offers a new approach to these exceptional wine auctions by putting conviviality and exchange at the heart of the experience. Since 2015, the team of passionate experts, has established a bureau exclusively dedicated to rare wines, assisting collectors in all aspects of enhancing their collections. In 2018-19, the historic sale of Henri Jayer’s personal cellar, to date the world’s largest auction ever held (CHF 34.5M), followed by the unprecedented sale exclusively dedicated to Domaine de la Romanée-Conti wines, and the sale of the last bottles from Domaine René Engel, propelled Baghera/wines to the forefront of European wine auctions. The experienced team gathered around Baghera/wines’ experts offers bespoke, close, and excellent advice to international collectors passionate about fine and rare wines: organizing master classes, selecting wines for private tastings, dinners, and events combining music and wine. In September 2020, Baghera/wines officially inaugurated its new Geneva entity, a private club and boutique dedicated to fine wines within Beau-Rivage, Geneva. In October 2022, the company further expanded its activities in Asia, opening Baghera/wines Singapore Ltd in Singapore, starting to hold physical and online auctions from December 2022. The year 2023 saw the creation of Baghera/wines France, capable of organizing auctions in France, with a second club for collectors and event activities inaugurated in Nuits-St Georges.
