London is well acquainted to first-class dining and fine wines. With world class sommeliers and numerous wineries, this lavish lifestyle comes at an expense.
We’ve put together a list of the top 13 most expensive wines in London.
In first place at a staggering £120,000.00 is the 2004, Penfolds Block 42 Ampoule.
1. Penfolds Block 42 Ampoule
Penfolds Block 42 Ampoule
Image from decanter.com
Block 42 is considered the world`s oldest Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard still in production, with plantings dated back to as far as 1885.
The Australian wine is presented in a handmade wooden cabernet and a specially designed glass vessel. Upon purchase, the head winemaker will attend and oversee the opening and presentation of the wine.
Vinified by one of the most famous names in Burgundy, Domaine de la Romanée Conti, the 2009 Pinot Noir is one of the finest vintages of the last 50 years.
The 4.4-acre vineyard of Romanée Conti produces around 400 cases per year, with one of these desirable bottles of wine costing £47,888.40.
A bottle of Romanée Conti is available at The Lanesborough hotel in Belgravia, London for £17,500
3. Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux
Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux
Image from Wine Searcher
Cros Parantoux in Vosne-Romanée is one of Burgundy’s most celebrated wines. With the marriage between the celebrity status of Henri Jayer and the quality of of the vineyard, the 1999 Cros Parantoux tops the list as one of the most desired premiers crus.
The Burgundy red is produced in a 2.5-acre vineyard by its two owners, Domaines Méo-Camuzet and Henri Jayer, who since 1989 have made three different versions of Cros Parantoux.
A bottle of Jayers finest is available from French restaurant, The Square in Mayfair, London for £14,500
4. Hermitage La Chapelle Magnum
Hermitage La Chapelle Magnum
Image from Wine Searcher
The name 'Hermitage La Chapelle’ derives from the little chapel of Saint-Christophe which overlooks terraced vineyards that line the Rhône, with it’s sole owner since 1919 is Maison Paul Jaboulet Aîné.
After the grapes are brought down from the l’Hermitage slopes and sorted by hand, the wine is aged in wood in a vine cellar for 15 to 18 months.
The Domaine de la Romanée Conti estate, also known as DRC, is home to the Montrachet vineyard’s and its Grand Cru neighbours which include, Chevalier-Montrachet and Batard-Montrachet amongst two others.
Co-owned by Aubert and co-directed by Henri-Frédéric Roch, the white wine vineyard is the second largest of five sites at 20acres.
A bottle of this chardonnay is available from The Ritz, London for £7,900.
6. Château Le Pin
Château Le Pin
Image from Le Figaro Vin
Château Le Pin is a bordeaux wine from a small estate in the Pomerol appellation, known as one of the most expensive red one regions.
The land has been owned by Jacques Thienpont since 1979, where the grapes are harvested by hand, fermented in stainless steel and matured in oak barriques for 14 to 18 months.
Petrus is a Merlot based wine which is produced in the 28-acre vineyard of the Pomerol appellation and is known for its rich flavours of chocolate, black fruit and spicy aromas.
Owned by Jean-Francois Moueix, the savory Merlot is imported from Pomerol, Bordeaux and unlike most wines, the vines are left to reach an unusually old age and are replanted every 70 years.
The estate of Vieux Château Certan is found in the Pomerol appellation of Bordeaux, famous for it’s Merlot wines, with the 35-acre vineyard being neighbour to Petrus.
The Thienpont family are owners to the Viewx Château Certan estate as well as the near by Le Pin.
Blended with 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 10% Sauvignon, a bottle of this 2006 classic is available at, 5-star hotel, The Berkeley in Belgravia, London for £740.
10. Château D’Yquem, 1er Cru Classé Supérieur
Château D’Yquem
Image from Vinatis
Château D’Yquem is produced in Sauternes, south east of Bordeaux and is classed as the worlds most famous dessert wine.
The D’Yquem estate, once owned by the King in the middle ages, was rated Premier Cru Supérieur in the official classification of 1855.
The wine is a blend of the Semillion grape and Sauvignon Blac which are picked by a team of around 150 and matured in new oak for three years.
A bottle from Dinner by Heston Blumenthal is served with coravin, which is a technology that allows you to pour wine without removing the cork. It’s available for purchase at £550
11. Ribera del Duero, Valbuena 5
Ribera del Duero, Valbuena 5
Image from Vega Sicilia
Vega Sicilia is renowned as the greatest Spanish wine producer, where the Ribera del Duero estate is noted for its red wines made from the Tinto Fino grape.
The 2006 vintage is made from a blend of predominantly Tinto Fino with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grape, a famous Spanish take on a Bordeaux blend, with its intense and rich flavours recommended to compliment beef or venison dishes.
A bottle of Ribera del Duero is available at The Dorchester hotel in Mayfair, London for £495
12. Chablis ‘Blanchots’, Francais Raveneau
Chablis ‘Blanchots’, Francais Raveneau
Image from World Web Wines
Blanchot is one of the seven vineyard sites found on the the Chablis Grand Cru hill, which is east of the Serein river above Chablis town.
Blanchot wines differ to other Grand Cru wines due to their lighter style and simple flavours and are less age worthy in comparison.
The 2006 vintage is produced by Domaine François Ravenue, based in Burgundy, which is famous for its Chardonnays. The grapes are harvested by hand and fermented with indigenous yeasts before further fermentation in barrels.
A bottle of the 2006 Chardonnay is sold at The Greenhouse for £495
13. Corton-Charlemagne
Corton-Charlemagne
Image from Wine Watch
Family-owned wine producer Domaine Bonneau du Martray is known for its Corton-Charlemagne wine, which is regarded as one of the best Chardonnays in Burgundy.
It was founded by the Bonneau family, post-French Revolution, and only makes Grand Cru wines but previous to this, the Emperor Charlemagne (Charles the Great) ordered the planting of the first white grape varieties on Corton hillside.
The 2007 vintage chardonnay is available at The Coburg Bar located in 5-star hotel, The Connaught, for £320.
By Grace Handley
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