At the end of the year, it is once again time for a top 10 most expensive wines sold at auctions. The auction world can look back on one of the best years ever. Record after record fell and wine auction prices are again higher than before the crisis. The record price for a bottle of wine so far stood at 201,575 euros for a bottle of Château Lafite Rothschild 1869, paid at an auction in Hong Kong in 2010. Two particular auctions stand out in terms of price last year in particular: the Henri Jayer Heritage auction at Baghera in Geneva and the Rare Domaine de la Romanée-Conti auction from the Personal Cellar of Robert Drouhin at Sotheby's in New York. All the records below were achieved at these two auctions. Other prices per bottle do not even come close to this list. To still keep things a bit interesting, we have only listed a price per wine per, even if multiple bottles or magnums were offered.
1. Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 1945, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
€ 490.000
Only two barrels (about 600 bottles) of this wine were produced in the peak year of 1945. That is why most bottles that reach the market have an 'air' about them. This does not apply to these bottles from Drouhin's private collection. Maison Drouhin was the exclusive exporter and distributor in Belgium and France for Het Domein from the early 1920s to the early 1960s. The saying 'When many fine wines pass through your hands, something really sticks' is an understatement here. The provenance of this collection is beyond reproach and perhaps even better than if they had come from Het Domein's cellars. The previous record for this wine from 2011 stood at 108,500 euros.
2. Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 1937, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
€272,000 (1 magnum)
As many as three magnums of this the Drouhin family still had lying around, unprecedented in the wine world. According to Gert Crum, this wine has an overall impression of superior class with understated style: 'A truly great Romanée-Conti, which can be drunk for decades to come.'
3. Vosne-Romanée 'Cros Parantoux' 1er Cru 1978, Domaine Henri Jayer
€127,000 (1 magnum)
This winemaker produced wine until his retirement in 2001 and pioneered biodynamic winemaking. His unfiltered wines go away for unprecedented prices. The collection at Baghera is the remnant of his private collection, made available by his heirs to share with the world. Again, the provenance is impeccable - resulting in prices going through the roof.
4. La Tâche Grand Cru 1945, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
€ 87.200
Again, 1945 is the 'year of the years'. In absolute peak years, La Tâche is barely below its big brother Romanée-Conti in price.
5. Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 1943, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
€ 60.000
Best vintage during the war, thanks to near-perfect weather conditions in spring, summer and autumn. Crum: 'Sweet, ripe, quite good length and attractive finish.'
6. La Tâche Grand Cru 1947, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
€ 60.000
For Bordeaux, the best year of the decade. Also for The Domain, a big, ripe and rich year. Of these, most were bottled in England.
7. La Tâche Grand Cru 1949, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
€ 49.000
Another absolutely top year, the best year of the 1940s after 1945. Many wines were not bottled on The Domain, but in England, which is where most bottles can still be found.
8. Domaine Henri Jayer, Richebourg Grand Cru 1978 €45,000
9. Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 1938, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti €49,600
10. Romanée-Conti Grand Cru 1962, Domaine de La Romanée-Conti €49,600
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