Bonhams will hold the first-ever ex-cellar auction from Burgundy’s Maison Edouard Delaunay in Hong Kong this November, featuring 68 lots direct from the historic estate’s family cellar, including a single-barrel selection estimated at up to HK$360,000 (US$46,000).
The online sale, titled “Jubilant Revival in Burgundy: Maison Edouard Delaunay Ex-Domaine – Finest & Rarest Wines”, will run from Nov. 5 to 27. Among the highlights is a complete set from a 2023 Vougeot Premier Cru Les Cras barrel, re-bottled across multiple formats — one Salmanazar (9L), 12 Jeroboams (3L), 36 Magnums (1.5L) and 120 standard bottles. The winning bidder will also receive the option to personalize labels.
“This is the first time we are offering such exclusive wines from our private cellar,” said Laurent Delaunay, President of Edouard Delaunay. “These exceptional bottles, some of which are truly irreplaceable, have never left our family’s cellars until now. We are delighted to partner with Bonhams, whose reputation for excellence ensures these treasures will find their rightful place in the world’s most discerning collections.”
Amayès Aouli, Bonhams’ global head of wine and spirits, called the auction a “landmark sale,” noting every bottle comes directly from the 132-year-old estate. “This auction represents a unique opportunity to acquire to pristine, never-before- released wines, while celebrating the resurgence of a historic Burgundian name,” he said.
A Phoenix Reborn
Edouard Delaunay was founded in 1893 and was once synonymous with top Burgundy. But by the early 1990s, the estate had faded from the international stage. In 2017, Laurent Delaunay, a winemaker and oenologist who had built a career outside the family firm, repurchased the name and painstakingly rebuilt it. The revival earned the estate the nickname “the phoenix brand.”
In less than a decade, Edouard Delaunay has not only returned to prominence but also earned more than 700 international scores above 90 points. At the International Wine Challenge, it was named “Red Winemaker of the Year” three times (2020, 2022, 2024) and “White Winemaker of the Year” in 2021 — rare recognition that few Burgundy domaines can claim in both categories.
Bonhams, established in 1793, has expanded its global reach in recent years through acquisitions and now holds more than 1,000 auctions annually across over 60 categories, including wine and spirits. The auction house said its decision to stage this sale in Hong Kong reflects continued demand from Asia’s high-net-worth collectors despite a slower global fine wine market.
With cross-border demand for fine wine growing, Bonhams has been boosting its online presence and positioning Hong Kong as a key hub for reaching Asia’s high-net-worth collectors.
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