Wine is considered to be a staple drink in many homes across the world as it doesn’t cost a fortune. However, there are a few exceptions as wines are indeed costly with an interesting background which makes them appear on the list of the most expensive wines in the world.
There are a number of factors that determine the variation in the prices for different types of wines like – raw material and winemaking costs, bottling and branding costs, age of the wine, grapes and vintages, scarcity, etc.
20 Most Expensive Wines in the World
If you have a passion for wine and love to collect them or are eager to taste some rarest of rare flavors, then you are on the right page as we will discuss the world’s top 20 expensive wine bottles.
Below is the list of the 20 Most Expensive Wines Around the World. Check them out right away!
1. 1992 Screaming Eagle Cabernet
Price – $500,000
Screaming Eagle Cabernet is the world’s most expensive wine recorded in history. It was auctioned at a mind-boggling price of $500,000 at the Napa Valley Wine Auction. The proceeds received from the auction went to charity but no one can disagree how prestigious the price tag was.
Jean Philips purchased the brand in 1986 who happened to be the original owner and founder. Very few people are aware of the fact that the part of the harvest was aged in a special barrel with an engraved top. This luxurious wine delivers tasting hints of plush, ripe, and round fruit with layers of texture, and every sip of this wine feels Divine.
2. 1945 Jeroboam of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild
Price – $310,000
Jeroboam of Chateau Mouton-Rothschild is the world’s second expensive wine and it is considered to be one of the greatest vintages ever known to mankind. This was bottled after the end of World War II symbolizing “peace” after the dark times.
The wine boasts numerous unique styles. It is labeled as one of the “immortal” wines of the century which can be easily recognized among others because of the presence of exotic, over-ripe, coffee, tobacco, mocha, and Asian spices.
3. 1947 Château Cheval Blanc
Price: $305,000
1947 Château Cheval Blanc1947 Château Cheval Blanc is famous for its rich texture which makes it the third most expensive wine in the world. People who have a deep passion for wine and connoisseurs of wine consider this as one of the finest & best Cheval Blanc in the 20th century. Cheval Blanc is high in alcohol and advanced acidity.
It was difficult in the 1940s to have a mechanized temperature control facility that had issues in controlling the fermentation process. The hot temperature delivered grapes that had high sugar content so ice was added to cool down the mixture. The resultant process of this one of its kind fermentation is a wine with tasting notes of fruitcake, chocolate, leather, and Asian spices.
4. 1907 Shipwrecked Heidsieck
Price: $275,000
1907 Shipwrecked Heidsieck wine is one of the rarest and best finds in the history of unearthing. Around Two thousand bottles of these most expensive wines were rescued from a ship that has been attacked by German sub during the first World War.
The cargo was on its way to deliver at the Imperial Court of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia which was struck by the German submarine. The bottles along with the ship stayed as it is underwater for almost 80 years when it was brought back in the year 1998. The bottles have been sold later at various auctions. As the bottles were stuck in the ocean for almost 8 decades some people have noticed a subtle oyster hint.
5. 1869 Chateau Lafite
Price: $230,000
1869 Chateau Lafite wine ranks fifth in our list of the world’s most expensive wines. It was the perfect climate for growth and harvest for this wine when it was grown in 1867-1869.
Vibrant flavor with in-depth cherry notes can be found in every sip of this wine. It has a fine dry finish that goes into your palate with much ease. The 1869 Chateau Lafite is considered to be among the finest wines of the world which are fermented for at least 15 to 30 years.
6. 1787 Chateau Margaux
Price – $225,000
1787 Chateau Margaux is one of the costliest wines that was ever produced by Château Margaux. When it was discovered, T.H initials were found etched in the glass.
It was believed that this wine was owned by Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States.
7. Ampoule from Penfolds
Price – $168,000
This is probably the only wine that seems like an ampoule, unlike other wines which mostly come in a tall bottle. This limited-edition wine which is just 12 in number is one of the most innovative and rare container formats.
This wine from the house of Penfolds is divided into four parts which were commissioned by four craftsmen :
(a) the wine
(b) the wine held in an airtight and sealed hand-blown glass ampoule
(c) a hand-blown glass bob and
(d) a timber cabinet that contains everything together.
8. 1999 Henri Jayer, Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux
Price – $136,955
Henri Jayer wine is the eighth-most expensive wine in the world which is often associated with Burgundy and Champagne. In each sip of this wine, one can feel the tasting notes of oak, a mix of earth, and minerals. Even though it has strong characteristics still it gives a smooth finish.
Vosne-Romanée is home to Grand Cru vineyards which are famous for the manufacturing of some of the world’s expensive bottles. Because of the geographical location of this place the wines produced here are said to be having rich, sensual, and aristocratic traits.
9. 1945 Romanee Conti
Price – $123,900
The Romanee Conti red wine is produced in the year 1945 which is one of the supreme and timeless wines ever made. The Romanée-Conti vineyard which is spread over 45 acres makes the best and highest quality of Burgundy.
There is one more reason why this wine is so expensive because of the climate condition approximately 600 bottles were produced which makes them limited edition pieces.
10. 1811 Chateau D’YQUEM
Price – $117,000
It is easy to describe the taste of the wine and explain aromas as well but this most expensive wine is an exemption. Complex flavors are offered by Chateau D’YQUEM that stay on your palate for a long duration of time till it starts dissipating.
Several wine waiters have tried their best to identify the layers of flavors in this bottle. Many of them noted that the wine starts with a bouquet aroma. As soon it is opened one can savor in the different fruity essences like apricot, mandarin, oak, and vanilla.
Few have commented that they have noted complex fragrances of dried fruits and spices like cinnamon, saffron, and licorice. The wine is a little sweet balancing out a little bit of bitterness and acidity.
11. Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1951
Price – $38,000
Penfolds Grange is a very popular brand of Australian wine. It is a mixture of Shiraz grape and a tiny quantity of Cabernet Sauvignon.
Max Schubert, The brand’s winemaker has experimented with a product that resulted in the form of the Hermitage 1951. He traveled across Europe in the 1950s and returned back to Australia to start implementing the techniques to prepare wine that he observed when he was in Bordeaux.
12. Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru 1990
Price – $21,200
Domaine de la Romanee’s Conti Grand Cru 1990 is the world’s 12th expensive vintage wine with a complex concentration of lightweight flavors. One can notice aromatic hints of fruits like blackberries, Raspberry, lavender, mint, and dark spices along with some sort of acidity and minerals.
13. Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru 2012
Price – $14,450
Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru 2012 is one of the most expensive wines which is best described as “magical and sumptuous.” There is a strict set of procedures that needs to be followed during cultivation that combines old-vine preservation and ultra-low yields. The final result of such best practice is Musigny Grand Cru’s bottle of wine with complex and deep flavors.
This wine features tasting notes of tropical fruits and strawberries which can be well-balanced with mouth-watering meat dishes that are either roasted or grilled.
14. Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese 1999
Price – $13,615
Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese is the fifteenth most expensive wine in the world which is produced from sweet, shriveled botrytized grapes. This rare wine is very concentrated and super sweet. This bottle is the perfect mixture of sweetness combined with hints of sourness and bitterness.
15. Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Musigny Grand Cru 1990
Price – $11,720
Domain Georges & Christophe Roumier are known to ensure their wine is as natural as possible that even the vines are hand-tended. Each bottle of wine goes through the process of controlled fermentation and is kept in barrels for around 16 to 18 months.
This long time frame and slow aging process allow the mixture to be bottled directly without any filtration. The next result of this entire process is that these products withstand the test of time. This classic vintage wine has concentrated dark berries and mineral aromas which makes it more elegant.
16. Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru
Price – $10,030
If you want to have the goodness of oranges and lemons in the form of wine then you should definitely give get a bottle of Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru. The taste profile is full of citrus, butter, minerals, and fruit tree. The flavors have a subtle intensity and density which is best matched with dishes like seafood or pasta.
The entire process to make this takes around 18 months wherein it is allowed to mature for 12 months in new oak and then it is transferred to used oaks for 6 months. The grapes used in this process are harvested manually.
17. J.S. Madeira Terrantez 1805
Price – $8,285
One may think that wine inside this bottle is not that good as it is meant to be if you give a glance at the bottle of J.S Madeira Terrantez, however, that’s not the case. These wine bottles were first discovered by the OP brothers (Oleg and Pedro) in Sao Vicente which were initially packed with wax and corks.
As these bottles were stuck for years they appear in horrible condition covered with sand and dirt. Therefore the liquid was first placed in a demijohn while the process for the external appearance of the bottles was underway. Madeira Terrantez wine is considered to be a product of Terrantez grapes which are famous for full-bodied flavor and bouquet of aroma.
18. Domaine de la Romanée Conti – Montrachet Grand Cru
Price – $7,924
One of the finest Burgundy is crafted by Domaine de la Romanée Conti (DRC). The vineyard is positioned in the hill where sunshine is abundant which makes the process of ripening faster. They also grow deep into the limestone which makes them healthy and more flavorful.
Montrachet Grand Cru has different tasting notes like honey, peach, citrus, and pears. The floral and fruity flavor in the palate creates fresh, smooth, and different tropical creamy flavors with a subtle acidity.
19. 1990 Domaine Leroy – Chambertin Grand Cru
Price – $7,447
Numerous bottles of wine have made their name in the food and beverage industry in the year 1990 and one such product is Chambertin Grand Cru. This red wine bottle is known for its phenomenal tasting notes of different types like red and blackberries, spices, raspberries, leather, and smoke.
The combination of beef, veal, and poultry dishes along with these well-rounded flavors will give a smooth finish.
20. 1949 Domaine Leroy – Richebourg Grand Cru
Price – $5,921
The Richebourg Grand Cru wine bottle is one of the most expensive wines from the house of Domaine Leroy. Domaine Leroy company is the producer of wine based in the Côte de Nuits region of Burgundy. This vintage bottle of wine is available in spices and cherry flavors.
This vineyard estate is famous for producing the best Pinot Noir wine. The wine tastes much better with every sip. The historical value and post-war appeal make it a great collection piece.
So, if you are passionate about trying or having any of these expensive wines and bear pockets deep enough, then which wine would you be opting for? Moreover, it’s the sheer pleasure you get by having these priceless wines displayed in your wine collection that has no match for money.
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