French collector and restauranteur Christian Vanneque has bought the most expensive bottle of white wine in the world, a 200 year-old bottle of Château d’Yquem for £75,000. Sold by the Antique Wine Company this record-breaking sale was made at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Central London.
Vanneque is the former head sommelier at La Tour d’Argent in Paris and plans to display this bottle of wine-behind bullet-proof glass-at his new restaurant, Sip Sunset Grill in Bali, Indonesia.
The renowned 1881 vintage only has 10 bottles that are still in existence. It has been called the ‘Comet Vintage’ due to the Flaugergues comet that was vistable in the sky during most of the growing season. It is thought of to be one of the greatest vintages in history. The renoud wine critic Robert Parker gave the 1881 d’Yquem a perfect 100 point score in a 1996 tasting and since then those who have been lucky enough to open a bottle have marveled at its unparalled complexity.
Château d’Yquem is a famed wine from Sauternes in the Bordeaux region of France It is a luscious dessert wine that is praised for its complexity and has been called by many the finest sweet wine in the world. Sauternes is blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, where the grapes that have been affected by boytrytis more commonly known as “noble rot.” The grapes are painstakingly hand-harvested to make sure only boytrytized grapes are picked and the result is concentrated flavors of apricots, honey and peaches with a balance of sweetness and acidity. These wines are known for their longevity and can be cellared for decades.
The Château d’Yquem is always a good buy for collectors and wine enthusiasts alike. Christian Vanneque has said that he plans open this prized wine one day.
Source and Photo [Decanter]
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