Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Most expensive white wine: 1811 Château d'Yquem set world record (Video)

LONDON, UK -- A 200-year-old bottle of 1811 Chateau d'Yquem was bought for $123000 (75000 pounds) at the Ritz in London by wine connoisseur and private collector Christian Vanneque - setting the new world record for the Most expensive bottle of white wine.

  Photo:  French private collector Christian Vanneque holds the bottle of 1811 Chateau D'Yquem he bought for $123,000. ( enlarge photo )

 The Guinness world record for the Largest collection of wine and champagne labels was set by Sophia Vaharis of Athens, Greece, who has collected 15,255 different labels from champagne and wine bottles.

Guinness World Records also recognized the most expensive bottle of wine sold at auction: £192,000 ($304,375), which was paid for a bottle of 1947 French Cheval-Blanc, and sold at Christie's, Geneva, Switzerland .

   The buyer of the 1811 Château d'Yquem was private collector Christian Vanneque, former head Sommelier at the Michelin starred La Tour d'Argent restaurant in Paris.

  "This wine is very special — it is attached to the most renowned white wine in the world, and it was produced in the year of the Great Comet, which was believed to enhance the quality of the wine," Vanneque told Reuters.

 "It is a rare wine, which been tasted on three occasions and each time received five out of five stars," he added.

  "It was not just purchased as an investment – it is also going to be an enjoyment."
  "I did not know it was the most expensive white wine ever sold when I purchased it, but I did know it was the most expensive wine I had ever paid for."

  The high concentration of sugar in Château d'Yquem means it has a drinking life which far outstrips that of other wines.

  If stored properly, d'Yquem can age for indefinite periods. There are only a few wines in the world that have these unique properties.

  Though Château d'Yquem is famed for being one of the finest and most expensive sweet white wines, the 1811 vintage has a particular attraction for wine enthusiasts.

   The climatology of the year, reviews from tastings, as well as the auspicious appearance of the Great Comet in that year, all indicate an excellent wine.

  The wine will be displayed in a bullet-proof, temperature and hydrometrically controlled showcase for six years at his restaurant, the SIP Sunset Grill in Bali.

 "I will open it in six years to mark the 50th anniversary of when I began work in Paris and share it with my wife, brothers and friends — I already know what the menu will be," Vanneque said.