« Heartbeat »

Baghera has thrived in the company of domains and châteaux, striving to establish bonds between collectors and the great winemakers—the men and women who create the wines we are so passionate about.

These strong ties to our roots lie at the heart of our ethos, at the heart of our very identity. Ten years of auctions, ten years of shared stories.

To celebrate these past ten beautiful years together, we are delighted to present the “Heartbeat” sale, which, with two (very fine) exceptions, will consist entirely of wines sourced directly from châteaux and domains.

This sale is a way of thanking those who strive every day to produce the great wines we hold so dear, and to offer our valued clients the opportunity to acquire wines originating directly from the estates. A tribute to the winegrowers, crowned by a community-minded initiative.

For some time now, we had been working with the association “12 de Cœur” to organise a charity auction in aid of “Restos du Cœur” and  the “Reload” foundation.

However, as the donors are all leading winegrowers from across France’s wine-growing regions, we naturally found ourselves with wines sourced directly from the estates.

The course of action was obvious: to include wines from the “12 de Cœur” association in our 10th anniversary auction dedicated to winemakers.

All wines donated by the association’s contributors will be listed in the “Heartbeat” auction catalogue and will be sold to raise funds for the most disadvantaged.

Founded in 2014 by Pierre-Henry Gagey, Aubert de Villaine, Jean-Pierre Perrin, Jean-François Moueix, Jean-Claude Rouzaud, Sylvain Pitiot and Michel Boss, the “12 de Cœur” association is now led by Jean Moueix, Saskia de Rothschild, Marc Perrin, Vitalie Taittinger, Perrine Fenal, Thibault Gagey and Michel Boss as president.

These leading figures in the fine wine sector have a threefold aim: to help the most disadvantaged, to create a unifying project for French winegrowers, and to present French wines as an integral part of French society. Ambitions to which we fully subscribe.

The “Heartbeat” auction therefore sets out to thank the winegrowers without whom Baghera would not exist, and, in doing so, to contribute to the charitable actions undertaken by a number of them.

Sunday the 10th of May will be a day of celebration, tribute, sharing and emotion centred on what we all have in common, dear readers: the love of wine.

We will do everything in our power to honour the work of those who bring out the best in our terroirs and create great wines.

Virginie Maison—Dear Pablo, as a wine specialist born into a family that owns one of Spain’s most prestigious vineyards, you are undoubtedly the ‘Bagherian’ best placed to tell us about the very special relationship Baghera has with châteaux and domains. What can you tell us about it?

Pablo Alvarez—Indeed, it is precisely this close bond with the domains that led me to Baghera. Practically since its inception, Baghera has always stood alongside producers, accompanying them in the conveyance of their history and their wines. We feel fully committed to the journey that wines embark on, from their beginnings at the domain to their encounter with wine lovers across the globe. Today, this relationship is no longer limited to wine auctions: it extends from the personal to the professional sphere, notably through our boutique in Geneva, and more recently, by sharing privileged moments around fine dining tables, alongside enthusiasts and exceptional producers, in restaurants across the globe.

Pablo, your passion is discovering wines, your job is selling them, and your background is rooted in the terroir. You know everything there is to know about the wine-making process and the wine market. Tell us why a wine’s provenance is so important to a wine lover?

When we talk about wine, we are referring to a living product that must be preserved. In the same way that winegrowers look after their vines to produce grapes of the highest quality, and oenologists subsequently treat this precious juice with the utmost care, it is equally important to preserve these wines in optimal conditions to allow them to age properly. For connoisseurs of mature wines, this is fundamental. Which is why the Baghera team attaches particular importance to storage requirements, enabling the bottles to develop in a slow and harmonious manner. Optimal humidity, along with low and stable temperatures without sudden fluctuations, are essential.

As an auctioneer at Baghera/wines Auction France, I am well aware of the impact that a bottle's provenance can have on the bidding. We have witnessed this during the wine auctions I have conducted on French soil, right at the heart of the estates themselves, at Château Ducru-Beaucaillou in Saint-Julien in 2024 and at Domaine François Gaunoux in Meursault in 2025. The magic of selling wines ‘that haven’t moved’, as one might say. How do you explain the rush of excitement felt by every wine lover who gets the chance to snap up a bottle at auction which comes directly—as if from a dream—from an exceptional château or domain?

The key aspect is precisely that mentioned above: the fact that the bottles were never removed from the cellars is what made these sales so special. Whether at Château Ducru-Beaucaillou or Domaine François Gaunoux, we were fortunate enough to have tasted and offered a selection of bottles that had remained in the cellars for decades since they were bottled—a totally incredible experience. Not only do we connect buyers from all over the world with the producers themselves, but this approach is also creating a unique, near-intimate relationship when the buyer travels to the estate to collect their wines and meets the very people who have produced them. As I previously mentioned, the Baghera team considers itself, first and foremost, a partner to the estates, assisting them in the transmission of their knowledge and expertise.

You are Director of the Geneva office, liaising with Baghera’s offices elsewhere in the world and interacting with an international clientele. Is this ‘ex-estate’ provenance equally important to all buyers?

I consider provenance to be essential without exception. The peace of mind that comes from knowing the bottles have been perfectly preserved throughout their time in storage encourages clients to agree to higher prices. The uncertainty one can sometimes experience at an auction completely disappears here, replaced by genuine confidence. And that applies to all buyers.

What are your top 10 lots from the “Heartbeat” auction?

I would mention the following wines: a bottle of La Tâche 1971 (lot 62), a magnum of Richebourg 1970 by Méo-Camuzet (lot 60), a jeroboam of Chevalier-Montrachet Domaine Leflaive 2015 (lot 7), a magnum of Clos de Bèze 2000 by Bruno Clair (lot 23), a magnum of Salon 2007 (lot 115), a magnum of Clos Saint-Hune 2009 (lot 132), a 6-litres of Vega Sicilia Único 2007 (lot 211), a 3-litres of Pinot Noir Les Saintes Claires 2002 from Domaine Albert Mann (lot 124), a 15-litres of Bodegas Toro Albalá 1955 (lot 198) and a 3-litres of Sassicaia 1995 (lot 235).

Baghera has set aside two lots that are exceptional inasmuch as the wines have already found buyers when they were first offered at previous legendary sales conducted by our divine panther from the Dionysian procession. Precious memories, therefore. Can you tell us something more about them?

True to our history, this sale does indeed include two lots that were purchased by customers at our previous sales and which have been stored in our warehouses without ever being disturbed. Two of these sales have made a particularly significant mark on Baghera’s history, the most iconic of which remains “Henri Jayer The Heritage”, which has enjoyed an all-time historical record since the 17th of June 2018. And how could we fail to mention that exceptional sale organised during the COVID period at the Club 1865 by Baghera/wines, “La Romanée Memories 1862–2005”, an unforgettable experience during which we offered a selection of La Romanée bottles from the Bouchard Père & Fils era. This sale will bring together a selection of bottles from these landmark moments in Baghera’s history. (Domaine Henri Jayer, lots 65 to 76, and Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils, lots 77 to 89 )

Thank you, Pablo, for this interview, which above all highlights the pivotal role of winegrowers, vintners, winemakers, domains and châteaux: those who quench our thirst with fine wines… and emotions. To each and every one of you, a sincere and heartfelt thankyou!