Ornellaia Vertical Tops Milan Wine Auction

A Milan auction organized by Wannenes brought in 41,600 euro for a complete vertical of Ornellaia Vendemmia d’Artista from Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, one of the top lots in a sale that showed strong demand for Italian wine, Champagne and select bottles from Bordeaux and Burgundy. The lot, which had originally been planned as 10 separate lots with an estimated combined value of 31,000 euro, was instead offered as a single group at the request of buyers who wanted to preserve the set intact. It included double magnums from the 2011 through 2021 vintages and stood out as the highest-priced wine lot in the auction.

The sale, titled “The Historical Cellar - Wine & Spirits Auction,” took place in Milan in recent days and featured 461 lots drawn from four major collections, including part of the cellar of the historic Milan wine shop Vino Vino 1921. Wannenes said 82% of the lots sold, with average prices rising 110% above starting bids and total sales approaching 310,000 euro. For the house’s wine department, the result marked a strong start to the first half of the year.

Italian wines led the auction. Along with the Ornellaia vertical, an imperial bottle of Ornellaia Vendemmia d’Artista 2013, one of only 10 made, sold for 8,125 euro. Other Bolgheri wines also performed well. A double magnum of Masseto 1996 sold for 3,000 euro, while a bottle of Masseto 2016 brought 875 euro. Sassicaia from Tenuta San Guido also drew steady bidding, with a bottle from 1985 selling for 1,375 euro and a six-bottle case of the 1990 vintage reaching 3,250 euro.

Tignanello from Marchesi Antinori was another notable Supertuscan in the catalog. A balthazar bottle of the 2015 vintage sold for 3,750 euro, while three magnums from 1982 changed hands for 1,125 euro. In Tuscany, a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino Case Basse 1987 from Soldera sold for 1,000 euro and a bottle of Brunello di Montalcino Intistieti 1987 brought 1,125 euro.

From the Vino Vino collection, all Gaja lots sold. Among them was a six-bottle lot of Barbaresco Sorì Tildin 1988 that reached 1,875 euro. Piedmont also delivered strong results for Giacomo Conterno and Bruno Giacosa. Two single-bottle lots of Barolo Riserva Monfortino 1990 sold for 1,300 euro and 1,250 euro respectively. Three bottles of Barbaresco Riserva Asili 1996 by Bruno Giacosa brought 1,625 euro, while a magnum of Barolo Riserva Villero 1996 by Vietti sold for 1,062.50 euro.

French wines remained important but did not dominate the sale as much as Italy did. In Bordeaux, six bottles of Pauillac 2010 from Château Lafite Rothschild sold for 3,750 euro. A bottle of Château Margaux 2000 brought 687.50 euro, and a bottle of Château Cheval Blanc Saint-Émilion 1990 sold for 812.50 euro.

Burgundy produced some high individual prices as well. A bottle of Vosne-Romanée Les Genaivrieres 2001 from Domaine Leroy sold for 2,250 euro. A bottle of La Tache 2022 from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti reached 4,000 euro. Two lots containing one bottle each of Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet 1998 from Domaine Leflaive sold together for 1,500 euro, while a bottle of Clos de la Roche 2019 from Domaine Dujac brought 687.50 euro.

Champagne also drew strong interest. All Salon lots were sold, including a bottle from the 1997 vintage that reached 875 euro. A bottle of Krug Clos du Mesnil 1979 sold for 3,750 euro, while two separate lots containing one bottle each of Clos du Mesnil 1981 by Krug brought 4,000 euro apiece. A bottle of Krug Collection 1971 sold for 2,750 euro. A mathusalem of Dom Pérignon Luminous Collection 2008 changed hands at 4,160 euro.

The spirits section added more results to the sale totals. A Macallan whisky aged 18 years from the 1966 distillation sold for 1,875 euro, while a Macallan whisky aged 17 years from the 1965 distillation brought 1,500 euro.