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With fine wine value surging as a luxury investment, wine is certainly more than holding its own when it comes to sky high prices. As such, here are some of the most expensive bottles of wine in the world, and how much they sold for.
1. The Setting Wines 2019 Glass Slipper Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, 6-litre: US$1 million
In November 2021, a six-litre bottle of The Setting Wines 2019 Glass Slipper Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon became the most expensive wine ever sold at auction, going for an eye-watering US$1 million.
Grapes for the wine were sourced from Napa’s Coombsville area, where the Glass Slipper Vineyard resides. While the sole six litre bottling of the Cabernet Sauvignon sold for US$1 million, at charity auction, a 750ml bottle will go for a more humble $185. However, only 900 bottles of the 2019 vintage were ever produced, suggesting it may be hard to get your hands on.
2. 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Conti Grand Cru – US$558,000
An Asian collector paid the princely sum of US$558,000 at auction in New York City for this 1945 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Romanée-Conti Grand Cru in 2018. In the process, several records were set, including the highest price paid for a standard size bottle of Burgundy, and – at the time – the most expensive bottle of wine in the world. Only 600 bottles of the challenging 1945 vintage were produced.
3. Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 – US$500,000
One of the original ‘cult wines’ of California, Screaming Eagle’s 100% Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard is highly prized. So much so that a bottle of Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 1992 fetched a remarkable US$500,000 at charity auction, giving it third place on our list.
Only 500 cases of Screaming Eagle are produced each year, making them highly sought after and rare. They have ideal ageing properties.
4. 1945 Château Mouton-Rothschild – $310,700
The famous Bordeaux vineyard is certainly synonymous with quality, but it also lays claim to having one of the most expensive bottles of wine ever sold to its name. This Bordeaux Blend red wine consistently goes for a pretty penny, particularly the rare 1945 vintage, but in 1997 someone paid a whopping $310,700 for a jeroboam.
5. 1947 Château Cheval Blanc – $304,375
Often characterised as the greatest wine of the 20th century, the 1947 Château Cheval Blanc is something of an outlier when it comes to fine Bordeaux. A spectacular wine from St-Emilion, the 1947 vintage is always sure to command a high purchase price, but at a Christie’s auction in 2010, a bidder paid $304,375 for a bottle.
The wine is 50% Cabernet Franc, 50% Merlot and hails from an extremely hot vintage that delivered grapes high in sugar. The resulting wine is high in alcohol, particularly compared to others of the same era, at 14.4% ABV. It’s a true one-off, something Cheval Blanc’s current director, Pierre Lurton, described as “an accident of nature”.
With fine wine soaring in the most recent Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index, it probably won’t be all that long until a new bottle breaks the record to become the most expensive bottle of wine in the world.
At Cork Bar & Restaurant, we strive to bring you an affordable, memorable experience, enjoying our finest wines and flavorful dishes. However, there are some people around the world who go the extra mile with their choice of vino.
The Most Expensive Wines in The World
There is no shortage of wine connoisseurs who will pay top dollar for the bottle they like. The world’s most expensive wine bottles are often sold for astronomical prices. However, wine lovers worldwide attest that these bottles are worth every penny.
Let’s check out some of the most expensive wines ever bought or sold around the world.
1. 1945 Romanee-Conti
At the top of our list of the most expensive wines in the world is Romanee-Conti. This wine comes from the region of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC), a region home to many famous vineyards that have been producing wine for centuries.
A bottle of French Burgundy wine became one of the most expensive wines ever sold at auction in 2018. It was originally estimated to sell for around $32,000. However, the seventy-plus-year-old wine ended up selling for a record $558,000.
The value of the wine comes from the fact that it is one of only 600 bottles created at the Romanee-Conti Vineyard prior to the vines being uprooted and replaced. The wine is still made at the vineyard today and sells for $19,000 a bottle.
2. 1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon
This American wine sold for an incredible $500,000 at a charity auction in 2000, making it one of the most expensive Napa Valley wines ever sold.
One of the reasons that this wine is so valuable is due to the fact that during bottling, the wine was not filtered — leaving the wine with a raw quality. This exceptional vino is commonly left out of the world’s most expensive wine lists because the proceeds went to a charity.
3. 1947 Cheval Blanc
This bottle of Bordeaux created by Chateau Cheval Blanc sold for $304,375 at a Christie’s auction. What makes it so sought after is the fact that its flavor cannot be replicated. The unique flavor of the wine is due to bad weather causing technical problems. The creators thought the wine was ruined by the unfortunate season. However, the flavor was immaculate and has become iconic.
Often, buying wine is an investment, especially when the bottle is already somewhat old when you acquire it. You buy it because it’ll become worth more or taste better later. If you’re lucky, it might become one of the most expensive wines in the world. Well, that’s what the following, and unfortunate, people thought when they spent incredible amounts of money on bottles that would not last long enough to prove their worth.
4. 1787 Chateau Margaux
This bottle of vintage wine was once owned by former U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. Eventually, the bottle came to be in the possession of William Solokin, who priced it at $225,000 and took it out for dinner one night at a Four Seasons Hotel.
During dinner, a waiter bumped into the table, causing the irreplaceable wine to fall and shatter before Solokin even had a sip.
5. 1787 Chateau Lafite
Another bottle from Jefferson’s collection that also included his initials, this 1787 Chateau Lafite was purchased by Malcolm Forbes, son of Forbes Magazine founder B. C. Forbes, in 1985 for a hefty $156,450.
Sadly, Forbes never got to taste this expensive wine bottle. The spotlights in the glass case where the wine was stored dried out the cork and destroyed the wine, essentially rendering it worthless. Seems like any wine once owned by Thomas Jefferson is just unlucky!
6. 1811 Chateau d’Yquem
The 1811 Chateau d’Yquem became one of the most expensive white wines ever sold when Christian Vanneque bought it for $117,000 in 2011. This vintage wine is from the French Chateau d’Yquem, one of the most iconic vineyards in the world that has produced the wine since the 1500s.
The reason this wine went for an exorbitant price is that it was produced in 1811 when the vineyard had an exceptional harvest.
7. Penfolds Kalimna Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Another expensive wine on our list is the Penfolds Kalimna Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon 2004. It came from the oldest producing cabernet sauvignon vines in the world, which were transplanted from France to South Australia in the 1830s.
The wine was priced at $168,000 a bottle, and only 12 bottles of the 2004 vintage were sold that year. Being one of the rarest varieties of wine, Penfolds Kalimna Block 42 Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 went for such a hefty price tag. The wine producers even went to each buyer’s home to help them open the bottle with a special sterling silver scribe-snap.
8. Chateau Lafite-Rothschild 1869
In 2010, the Château Lafite-Rothschild 1869 made history at a wine auction by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong when it sold for a staggering $233,972 to an anonymous bidder.
The auctioneers expected this vintage to go for just $8,000 for a bottle. However, the heated bidding war from an anonymous bidder surprised everyone. It seems like you can’t put a price on a vintage, high-quality wine after all.
Come to Cork for A Relaxing Night Away
At Cork Bar & Restaurant, our wines are delicious and pair perfectly with any of the dishes our chefs prepare. For a night you’ll never forget, choose Cork. Reserve your table today!