November 13, 2008
Geraldini & Romani Fall Auction II: Barolo Wins Highest Bid

Investing in Italian Wine
Roma, Lazio
November 13th

As previously reported, the highly anticipated Gelardini & Romani fall wine auction hosted in Rome last month proved that collectors of fine wines are not holding back despite the economic crisis (read more). In fact, quite the opposite can be said judging by the preliminary results published yesterday of the second installment of the fall auction, which took place in Merano (Bolzano) last Saturday amidst the backdrop of the 17th edition of the Merano International Wine Festival & Culinaria.

In the catalog more than 250 lots, over 400 bottles, 67 lots labeled as Collectibles, 36 as Super Collectibles, focusing primarily on large-format bottlings, including 5 imperial formats (6 L.) of the 2006 vintage of Super-Tuscans, considered an historical vintage, presented en-primeur as a world preview prior to its release on the market on October 2009: Tenuta Sette Ponti, Le Macchiole, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, Tenuta San Guido and Antinori.

Like the first edition much interest was reserved to Italy’s most prestigious labels—this time the highest bid was reserved to a rare bottling (only 16 in existence) of Giacomo Conterno 1952 Barolo Monfrotino Riserva in a 12.3 L. format that sold for $7,600, followed by an imperial bottle of Tenuta dell’Ornellaia 2006 Masseto sold at $6,379.

Ninth and tenth bid went to the imperial format of Tenuta San Guido 2006 Sassicaia and Antinori 2006 Solaia, which sold for $3,015 and $2,660 respectively— showing that the value of these giants continues to increase, a strong indicator of a bright and solid future.

The final installment of the auction is scheduled to take place once again in Rome on December 13th.