Wines
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The Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855 ranked the Chateaux of the region into a league table representing their importance as growths (crus), from First to Fifth.
The First Growths (wine’s Premiership; Lafite Rothschild, Mouton Rothschild, Latour, Margaux & Haut Brion), as well as some ‘super seconds’ (a select number of Second Growths) and a handful of highly regarded Chateaux from the Right Bank which fell outside the classification system (notably , Petrus, Cheval Blanc, Ausone & Le Pin) form the backbone of today’s investment market, representing over 90% of traded volume.
Arguably the most famous and prestigious of the First Growths, and consistently the most expensive. Bottles often command four figure price tags; the heralded 1982 now trades at over £25,000 per case, the legendary 1959 at over £40,000, and even recent vintages such as the 2000 are now over £10,000 per case.
Lafite still holds the record for the highest price ever paid for a bottle of wine - $156,450 (£105.000) for a 1787 allegedly once owned by Thomas Jefferson (although controversy still courts the legitimacy of the claim). Hundred grand vinegar, anyone?
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James Bond’s favourite. Need we say more?
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Interestingly, a bottle of Château Margaux 1787 holds the record as the most expensive bottle of wine ever broken, insured at a whopping $225,000 (actual payout remains unconfirmed).
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The only first growth from outside the Medoc (this one lives in Graves), and the one with the funny shaped bottle. Easily mistaken at a glance for a Burgundy, the distinctive bottle was introduced in 1958 as homage to early decanters.
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In 1973, Mouton was elevated to First Growth after decades of intense lobbying by Baron Philippe, the only change in the original 1855 classification. This prompted a change of motto: previously, the motto of the wine was Premier ne puis, second ne daigne, Mouton suis. ("First, I cannot be. Second, I do not deign to be. Mouton I am."), and it was changed to Premier je suis, Second je fus, Mouton ne change. ("First, I am. Second, I used to be. But Mouton does not change.")
Each year the estate commissions an artist of note to design the label. This has included offerings from Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, Francis Bacon, and even Prince Charles!
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Whilst the wines of Pomerol were not included in 1855 classifications, Petrus has long been considered the equal of the First Growths, and due to its even greater rarity (only around 2,500 cases per year are produced, whereas Lafite, for example, might produce ten times that) will often command even more astonishing prices. Expect to pay upwards of £70,000 for a case of 1961!
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One of only two wines (the other being Ausone) to receive St Emilion’s highest rank of Premier Grand Cru Classe.
There is a wonderful story about Jaques Hebrard, the owner of the Chateau. Outraged by a bad rating of his 1981 Vintage, Hebrard demanded a re-tasting by Robert Parker Jr; the world’s most influential critic. Upon arrival at the Chateau, Parker was attacked by Hebrards dog whilst he stood idly by. When Parker asked for a bandage to curb the bleeding, he was instead handed a copy of the offending article!
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Producing only a few hundred cases per vintage, prices for this magnificent little estate in recent years are astonishing. The 2000 & 2003 trade for around £15,000 and £13,000 per case respectively, and the 2005 at well over £20,000! Often heralded as the finest wine in the world.
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Un-classed, highly regarded and spectacularly expensive. Expect to pay £50,000+ for a case of the 1982, (if you can find any!)
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