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]

Maino performs at LAX Nightclub.

Wednesday night, hip-hop artist Maino hosted the evening at LAX Nightclub inside the Luxor and included an explosive performance. Around 1 a.m. the artist arrived with a small group of friends and sat at their exclusive VIP table located in the center of the nightclub. The group sipped on Grey Goose cocktails and was joined by a couple of beauties. While Maino prepped for his performance, resident DJ Gusto spun the beats gearing up the club-goers for the main event.

The headliner got on stage around 1:30 a.m. to screaming fans. Performing to a packed house his set included the popular hit “Million Bucks” and his newest single “Let It Fly” off his upcoming sophomore album. Closing with a club favorite  “All The Above,” the emcee gained his fans attention when he cut the music and sang it a cappella, then held the mic out for the party-goers to sing back.

Following the 20-minute crowd pleasing performance, Maino headed back to his table bringing a few lucky fans up as the Brooklyn native took time to meet and pose for photos with them. The artist then popped a bottle of champagne and continued to party early into the morning during Vegas’ most popular mid-week bash.

Click on the photos below to enlarge.

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This issue of Haute Living San Francisco gives readers an inside look at Drew Altizer. Altizer, owner of Drew Altizer Photography, gives a charismatic account of what a day in his life is like.

11:00 a.m.

“This is around the time I usually get up. Don’t judge. I rarely make it to bed before 3 a.m., since I stay up most nights editing photos to meet East Coast newspaper deadlines.”

To read more, click here.

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Rochelle Gores Fredston talks about her past, present and future in fashion and in life in this issue of Haute Living Los Angeles.

“So in 2008, Gores Fredston moved to the West Coast where the idea for a Melrose Avenue high-end gem evolved. Inspired by 19th century European shopping malls called arcades – where multiple designers gathered to show their collections – Gores Fredston’s boutique, aptly named Arcade Boutique, would do just that.”

To read more, click here.

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This issue features Cartier’s latest collection and examines the elements that make each piece so exquisite.

“The Maison’s latest brainchild, the collection was born of a desire to overstep proverbial boundaries and simultaneously touch upon the most wonderful references so often tapped by Cartier: style, time, color and influences from far and away.”

To read more, click here.

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Move over America, seems like Asia might just have the lead when it comes to high rollers. China, known to have some of the wealthiest people, has come up form the pressure of inflation with the cost of luxury goods and services. Rising up to a significant percentage, in a year-on-year as of June, The Hurun Luxury Consumer Price Index shows all good signs towards a bang in world of lux shopping.

The Index makes it evident that the kind of spending people did wasn’t your average trip to the mall, rather it was made by those consumers that were much more inclined to nothing other than of the 61 fabulous categories, that of course included the famous Chanel and Louis Vuitton brand.

Ironically—the finest of companies weren’t the only ones bringing in the big bucks; it was those among the jet and yacht categories that hit the highest records within the report. The well-known yacht company—Sunseeker, currently sells its Manhattan 73 model for a near 31.4 million yuan, that’s $4.87 million in U.S. currency.

Other categories on list were those of high-end alcohol and tobacco—surely the wealthy Asian culture has a fine taste when it comes to beverages, fixating over old vintage Moutai— Chinese liquor and Bordeaux wines.

Automobiles weren’t too far behind on the list, though weren’t as high as they were last year. Car mogul Roll-Royce increased prices on their legendary Phantom EWB model, and roomer has it that both Porsche and BMW plan to also follow the same idea in plumping up their prices as well.

[Source: www.chinadaily.com.cn]

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This issue takes a look at Derecktor Shipyards’ luxurious Cakewalk. Read about the luxe touches and innumerable amenities that make the largest yacht ever built in the United States so magnificent.

“The yacht’s sun deck is the ideal spot for leisure and entertaining with a bar and whirlpool spa. The three additional decks offer open and shaded areas, making the entertaining and relaxing properties of the vessel virtually limitless.”

To read more of this story, click here.

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Tony Danza and his wife recently filed for divorce and are now selling their 3,000 square foot, ocean front mansion in Malibu for  $9,100,000.  The mansion sits below street level on a 50-foot stretch of oceanfront. The main house has three bedrooms and three bathrooms, as well as two detached guest suites with private bathrooms.  The home also boast amenities such as a media room, fitness center and meditation retreat.

Other features include a home office, living/ dining room with beamed ceilings and brick fireplace, a state of the art kitchen, and a master bedroom that spans the entire second floor.  The expansive master suite includes a private terrace and sitting area with fireplace and bookshelves.

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Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis premiere their new film, Friends with Benefits, on Tuesday in Moscow, Russia. Stars of that romantic comedy arrived to Russian capital especially for some photo sessions and panel interviews as a part of their global tour.

Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake wowed the Russian crowd with their charming looks and young appeal at Moscow’s Oktyabr Cinema where premiere took place. Mila, who arrived in a white Elie Saab ballerina-style gown with matching Elie Saab heels, looked radiant. Her appearance reminded photographers of her roll in the Black Swam alongside Natalie Portman. Completing the look with a pair of towering white and metallic platforms Mila caused quite a stir posing with Justin, who wore a deep blue three piece suit. The director of the film Will Gluck also attended the event, even posing together with the two leading stars of his film.

“Friends with Benefits” tells the story of friends Dylan (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie (Mila Kunis) who try to add sex into their platonic friendship. Little do they know that while they are enjoying their new friends with benefits endeavor, complications that will challenge their relationship are soon to arrive.

The movie sold $18.5 million in tickets to come in at number 3 at the box office this past weekend, behind “Harry Potter” and “Captain America.”  Providing the stir “Friends with Benefits” has caused at Moscow premiere, it is set to be a real hit in Russia too.

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Hong Kong is preparing food and wine connoisseurs all over the world for a truly unmatched dining experience as they get ready to host the Third Annual Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival October 27-30, 2011. It is an event one’s palate will not soon forget.

“Hong Kong is the ultimate epicurean destination where travelers from all walks of life can find a gourmet meal that suits not only their discerning palates but their wallets as well,” said Bill Flora, Director of Hong Kong Tourism Board USA. “From authentic, traditional Chinese fare at local hotspots to modernist and international cuisines at Michelin-starred restaurants, fine foods and wines are the backbone of this vibrant city.”

Hong Kong has long been recognized as an epicenter for culinary excellence offering both locals and visitors the freshest ingredients and a wide variety of dining and drinking options. Known best for popular Dim Sum, Cantonese cuisine, hearty noodle soups and international dishes at the city’s 11,000 restaurants, over 40 of which appear in the Michelin Guide, guests’ only worry is where to eat.

Not only is the food off the charts but wine lovers from far and wide flock to Hong Kong to enjoy a plethora of sophisticated tastes. The city boasts a vast selection of Old and New world wines including many of the world’s rarest Bordeaux and Burgundy wines. Hong Kong’s first urban cellar, 8^th Estate Winery, offers wines made in the heart of the city.

Hong Kong’s adoration of these two luxuries will culminate in the Wine & Dine Festival where food and wine lovers will gather to experience over 100 purveyors offering cooking demonstrations and classes along with non-stop entertainment. The multi-day event will take place on the West Kowloon waterfront looking out upon the Victoria Harbor and the city’s picturesque skyline.

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