Events

Italian auction sells en primeur
November 2009

Leading Italian auction house Gelardini & Romani will hold en primeur sales.

On 20 November Gelardini & Romani will hold a futures auction for the first time in Italy. En primeur system is tradionally used for Bordeaux wines, and the Italian auction will be another platform for selling wines in this format. Wines of 14 illustrious chateaux, of 2008 vintage will be sold, including Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Haut Brion, Cheval Blanc, Yquem и Petrus. Prices for First Growths start from 165 euros per bottle.

Gelardini & Romani will also hammer off Italian lots which, as the house believes, are attractive from the investment point of view or for collecting. Wines from 17 Italian estates were selected. They are mostly supertuscan and Barolo, plus some Brunello di Montalcino, Barbaresco, Amarone and Vin Santo. Below is the list of Italian wines for the en primeur auction:

Tuscany
Oreno, Sette Ponti, 2007
Le Pergole Torte, Montevertine, 2007
Tignanello, Antinori, 2007
Madonna del Piano, Valdicava, 2004
Biondi Santi, 2004
Apparita, Castello di Ama, 2007
Ornellaia, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, 2007
Sassicaia, M.si Incisa della Rocchetta, 2007
Redigaffi, Tua Rita, 2008
Messorio, Le Macchiole, 2007
Solaia, Antinori, 2007
Masseto, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, 2007
Vin Santo Occhio di Pernice, Avignonesi, 1998
Veneto Romano Dal Forno, 2004
Piedmont
Barbaresco Gaja, 2007
Barbaresco Riserva Santo Stefano, B. Giacosa, 2007
Barbaresco Riserva Asili, B. Giacosa, 2007
Barolo Cannubi Boschis, Sandrone, 2006
Barolo Vigneto Arborina, E. Altare, 2007
Barolo Sperss, Gaja, 2006
Barolo Riserva Granbussia, A. Conterno, 2005
Barolo Riserva Le Rocche del Falletto, B. Giacosa, 2004

Although the investment potential of some of the Italian wines is questionable, there are a few that are likely to be fought for. Among them is Masseto, the first Italian label that is sold through Place de Bordeaux from October this year. According to Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, an average increase in value for this cult Merlot was 86% from 2007 to 2008. At the auction, en primeur prices for Masseto 2007 start from 180 euros per bottle (for comparison, a 3-bottle lot of Petrus 2008 has an initial price of 4,200 euros, or 1,400 euros per bottle pro rata).