Anyone for a 123-year-old bottle of Chateau d'Yquem?

So you'd like to own one of the rarest bottles of wine in the world?

If that's your bag then British auction house Dreweatts will next month be offering a bottle of 1900 Chateau d'Yquem.

When this bottle was produced Queen Victoria was on the throne and the second Boer war was in full swing.

The bottle, at 123 years old, has been carefully stored in the cellar of a private collector for many years (Chateau d'Yquem is known for its longevity due to its high sugar content).

It has been given a conservative estimate of £3,200-£4,200 - which seems ludicrously low given (a bottle of 1811 Chateau d'Yquem sold for £75,000 in 2011, making it the most expensive bottle of white wine in the world).

Dreweatts says it expects bidding from around the world.

The bottle has provenance and was re-corked at the Chateau in 1996.

d'Yquem, of course, is coveted for its concentration, complexity and sweetness.

Mark Robertson, wine consultant at Dreweatts, said: “Having been re-corked at the Chateau in 1996 and stored beautifully by a collector and restaurateur ever since, this 1900 Château d’Yquem is a compelling combination of a mouth-watering colour, provenance and historical importance.

"Château d’Yquem’s enchantment is her ability to age and I often tell my clients to buy Château Climens for themselves, but Château d’Yquem for their descendants."

The bottle will be offered in Dreweatts upcoming sale of Wine, Champagne and Spirits on July 4.

See www.dreweatts.com. 

A sweet deal for lovers of sticky wines

Calling lovers of serious sweet wines. 

De Bortoli Wines are celebrating the 40th year of  Australian wine icon Noble One Botrytis Semillon with an exclusive Limited Edition release. 

The 40th Anniversary Limited Edition comes with a vintage wine from each of the last four decades, showcasing the potential longevity of Noble One.

Only 40 Limited Editions were curated and autographed by Darren de Bortoli, who first pioneered the production of Noble One in 1982.

De Bortoli believed that conditions in the Riverina region were ideal for sweet white wine, and crafted Australia's benchmark "sticky".

The long warm days interspersed with showers of rain and heavy morning dews during autumn, are ideal conditions for botrytis cinerea mould (known as Noble Rot) that produces intensely flavoured sweet wines. 

Noble One has been awarded over 182 trophies and 505 gold medals, with every vintage winning multiple awards.

The Noble One 40th Anniversary Limited Edition includes the 1984, 1993, 2004 and 2018 vintages, 

The collections are available exclusively available at the De Bortoli online shop for $2000 per Limited Edition.

Visit www.debortoli.com.au/nobleone40thanniversary