Langton’s ‘Once In A Lifetime’ Auction Is Being Headlined By 1980s Burgundy, From A God-Tier Winemaker

On the cusp of the holiday season, Aussie fine wine auctioneer Langton’s has just commenced ‘Once In A Lifetime’ – its latest thematic sale dedicated to just shy of a dozen Burgundian Crus, to take place online until 6 December.

The sale encompasses a number of significant Burgundian wines from the eponymous French region, totaling what specialists estimate to be a ballpark market figure of over $450,000. In all likelihood – and with the benefit of past auction results to call upon for context – that calculus looks set to be exceeded – particularly if the star lot of this sale, on until December, is any indication.

To front this ‘Once In A Lifetime Burgundy’ sale, Langton’s is offering a complete case (12 bottles) of 1985 ‘Cros Parantoux’ – a red wine in the Premier Cru classification, made in the historic commune of Vosne-Romanée. Home to six of the most legendary Grand Cru parcels in all of France – Romanée-Conti, for starters – it is also the birthplace of multiple, highly influential winemakers – guys like Henri Jayer.

Credited with “changing the face of Burgundy” through his innovative and original winemaking practices, Jayer helmed the Cros Parantoux vineyard between 1978-2001: an enviable single-hectare expanse, just above the even more emblematic Richebourg vineyard.

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Even at peak, Jayer only produced 3,500 bottles per annum – the result of his belief that low yields were mandatory for the production of a truly superlative red Burgundy – making this Cros Parantoux – in the parlance of auctioneers – “an unparalleled and exceedingly rare bottling”.

Previously, even single bottles of Jayer’s 1985 vintage have sold for as much as HK$171,417 (AU$32,520) but – in a brave new world where well-heeled collectors are unafraid to transact exclusively online – it’s anyone’s guess what an entire case of the stuff will fetch, especially given this particular case’s single-owner provenance and (visible) bottle condition.

“12 bottles of the world’s most prized Burgundy in their original box stored in perfect 14 degrees for their entire life,” says Michael Anderson, Head of Auctions at Langton’s. “What’s not to love?”