A complete set of Chateau Yquem with vintages spreading from 1860 to 2005, 135 bottles in total, have been sold in London for £775,000.
Housed in two bespoke walnut cabinets designed by Royal furniture maker David Linley, the unique collection spanning three centuries includes every consecutive vintage of Chateau d’Yquem produced between 1860 and 2003. It is the most extensive living archive of the world’s most famous dessert wine ever to come to market. Not even the Chateau itself holds all of these vintages in its cellars.
The cabinets themselves are valued at £50,000 each. There are even specially designed empty bottles for the vintages that were not actually produced due to ‘bad weather’ – these, for the trivia-lovers amongst you, are 1992, 1974, 1972, 1964, 1952, 1951, 1930, 1915 and 1910. The auction, handled by the Antique Wine Company, saw over 30 top financiers, entrepreneurs, politicians and private customers attending. The purchaser will be announced in the new year.
[see also this post]
