(Decanter) - Experts who tasted the 43 wines from the recently harvested 2012 vintage – later auctioned at the Hospices de Beaune – were surprised at the high quality of the wines, in spite of bad weather conditions that lead to one of the smallest harvests ever. The number of Hospices auction lots represented the smallest amount for 25 years, according to Roland Masse, manager at the Domaine Hospices de Beaune – a reflection of decreased volumes overall in the region. The Burgundy Wine Council (BIVB), for example, reported 25% lower volumes in the Côte de Nuits as compared to last year. Hail-hit vineyards of the Côte de Beaune led to 40-50% lower volumes.