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How the Hospices was won – by a Brit

As I explained in Breaking my Hospices duck, the single most prestigious lot in this year's Hospices de Beaune sale the weekend before last, the so-called Pièce du Président, a barrel of Corton Clos du Roy 2011, was finally acquired by Stephen Williams of the Antique Wine Company, London, for €110,000.  

This was apparently the first time this lot had been bought by a private individual and was ceded only after prolonged upward bidding pressure from two major Beaune négociants flanking me, Frédéric Drouhin and Pierre-Henry Gagey of Louis Jadot. 

After the gavel fell, Williams was ushered on to the stage with all the local dignitaries and this is his winner's speech. In the foreground with the rather badger-like hair is French wine writer Michel Bettane.