A Curated Guide to the Finest Hospices de Beaune Wines

Tasting Notes On The Hospices de Beaune Wines

Choosing your favorite wine is often a tricky decision to make… that choice is made even harder when the bottles you’re choosing from are from Burgundy and amongst some of the finest in the world. But sometimes we roll up our sleeves and do our best to come up with a ‘favorites’ list, and the tasting notes to justify those choices. We did it recently with some of our past purchases from the most famous wine auction in the world – the one held at the Hospices de Beaune each November. The Hospices de Beaune is a significant and beautiful historic building in the capital of Burgundy, a former hospital which now hosts a charity wine auction each year.

The wines come from famous vineyards that have been donated to the Hospices and are sold on this one auction occasion, every November, only by the barrel. We buy at least one barrel every year and sometimes many! These special wines are among our favorites and they are favorites of our clients too. Because a barrel is such a large amount of wine we have created consortiums that allow our clients to participate and buy these great wines in smaller quantities; Each consortium share is 4 cases or 48 bottles. We hope you, too, can participate and that these wines will become favorites of yours, too. Click this link to participate or for more information this link. And read on, as there is more detail later in this article.

And if you want to buy a barrel, join us and we will guide you in raising your own paddle at the auction to buy your very own barrel of Hospices wine, perhaps with your own name alongside that of the Hospices on the bottle label!

So here they are – Elden Selection’s favorite purchases from the Hospices de Beaune wine auction over the past decade, and our tasting notes. Some of these wines from classic vintages are available on burgundywine.com; why not check them out for yourself?

Our Top Hospices de Beaune Wines and Tasting Notes

We have several favorite ‘cuvées’ (the French term used to describe a special selection of a wine – it means literally ‘tank’ or ‘vat’). Sometimes we like a wine so much that we’ve purchased the same wine over several different vintages. But that’s the beauty of buying at the Hospices de Beaune – every year a particular style is put to the fore, each subtly different to the last, and showing a different facet of the wine’s character. One year might be pure ‘Pommard’ in nature – and the next could be unmistakably in the Volnay or Beaune style. The land the grape vines grow in – the rock and soil that we call terroir – differs almost yard by yard and is famous the world over for creating nearly infinite variety from just two grape types. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Burgundy will always show you something new, and our purchases reflect our appreciation of the different vintages. Getting to know them year by year, with us as your guide, is the best way to truly get under the skin of these wines – and for us it’s what Burgundy wine is all about.

• Beaune 1er Cru Dames Des Hospitalieres: an elegant and expressive wine, which offers vibrant aromas of red fruits (think raspberry, cherry and wild strawberries). On the palate, it’s full of soft tannins balanced in a counterpoint with delicate spices, plus a subtle floral note like violets. It has an underlying earthiness and minerality which balances the fruit, creating structure and finesse. It’s a medium ­bodied wine which has a bright, refreshing finish.

• Beaune 1er Cru Guigone De Salins: rich and structured, this wine often features ripe red and dark fruits, such as plum, cherry, and blackberry. Notes of forest floor, leather, and a hint of smoke can also develop as it ages. On the palate, it’s smooth with refined tannins, balanced by good acidity and earthy undertones. On the finish, you’ll find a touch of cinnamon and clove spiciness which lingers, reminding you that this is a brilliant representation of a Beaune Premier Cru.

• Beaune 1er Cru Nicolas Rolin: this cuvée shows complexity and depth as all great wines do – and at its core are currants, black cherry and dried herbs. We get a wonderful savory quality, combined with a rich, full­ bodied mouthfeel and a firm tannic structure. Earthy notes of truffle and tobacco emerge, especially with some age, adding to its complexity. Its long, persistent finish and hints of spice mean that this is a wine with excellent potential for aging.

• Beaune 1er Cru Pierre Floquet: as an illustration of the more elegant side of Beaune, you won’t find better than this delicate, floral cuvée. You will find aromas of cherry, redcurrant and rose petals to begin with; then on the palate it’s medium­ bodied with silky tannins and a lively acidity, giving it real vibrancy. The complexity comes by way of fresh raspberry and subtle herbs, and it finishes soft and smooth, making it approachable even when young.

• Beaune 1er Cru Cuvée Brunet: this is a powerful, well­ rounded wine with pronounced notes of black fruits, notably cherry and blackberry. They are complemented by earthy, spicy undertones. The texture is rich, with firm tannins and a structure that you’ll notice is a little more robust than other Premier Crus from Beaune. The oak aging it undergoes gives it notes of toast and vanilla, adding depth and creating a lingering, structured finish.

• Pommard 1er Cru Dames De La Charité: the wines of Pommard are known for their intensity, and this cuvée is no exception. You get powerful aromas of black fruits, especially blackberry and plum, alongside earthy notes of truffle and leather. This wine has a muscular palate with firm tannins and concentrated fruit flavors, but it’s balanced by a refreshing acidity. The finish is all about pepper and spice, with a bold, lingering profile that will only get better with age.

• Volnay 1er Cru Santenots Jehan De Massol: the hallmark traits of Volnay shine through in this wine – graceful, perfumed, with aromas of red cherries, raspberries and silkier notes of violet and rose. On the palate it is smooth, with soft tannins and a refreshing minerality. Complexity comes by way of a subtle earthiness and spices like cloves and cinnamon. On the finish it is long, with the fruit and acidity finely balanced.

• Volnay 1er Cru Santenots Cuvee Gauvin: yet another fine example of the charm of Volnay, this wine offers a slightly more robust character compared to the Jehan de Massol cuvée above. Its ripe red fruits with notes of cherry, blackberry and strawberry dominate the nose, with earthy and also floral undertones. The structure is provided by the fine­ grained but firm tannins. There are complementary flavors of spice and minerality alongside the fruit, before a long, elegant finish. Great aging potential.

• Corton Grand Cru Dr Peste: this very special Grand Cru is powerful and structured, with intense aromas of dark fruits – think blackcurrant, plum and blackberry – alongside more earthy notes of leather, mushroom and forest floor. On the palate it’s rich and full­bodied, full of firm tannins and layers of flavor which develop over time. Further complexity is added thanks to its oak aging, which gives it pleasing hints of vanilla and spice. On the finish it is long, with a beautiful balance between the fruit, acidity and tannins. Needless to say, this wine has superb aging potential.

How You Can Buy a Burgundy Wine Barrel Share Too

So join one of our convivial consortiums to purchase your very own share in a barrel at the Hospices de Beaune auction. If you’re interested in this unique and exclusive offer, just follow this link.

Prices fluctuate depending on the appellation as you might expect with a natural product such as wine, which varies from vintage to vintage. However, as a guide, we’ve recently been able to get some incredible Premier Cru wines for a hammer price of between €20,000 – €25,000 (for a 228 liter barrel). At this price range, the wines will ultimately retail at a per­ bottle price of $230 ­ $250. That means the cost to you is around €145 per bottle. So, for a share of 48 bottles, the cost is $7,000. For that, you get a great wine that will stand alongside the pantheon of the Hospices wines listed above – but also the thrill of participating in a Burgundy tradition, one of the great events in the whole wine world, and a memory that will last a lifetime.

Stay With Us at Domaine de Cromey

Why not stay with us in our idyllic Burgundy manor house, and live like Lords and Ladies when you attend the auction? We’re already taking bookings for the 2025 Hospices de Beaune wine auction! To make your booking, click here. We’ll wait on you hand and foot – and you’ll get gourmet meals prepared personally, tailored activities, luxurious accommodation and the benefit of our lifetime’s experience of Burgundy wine. We can’t wait to meet you!