As wealthy individuals continue to seek luxuries that most of us will only dream of, expensive wines are being increasingly sought after and commanding top prices. For example, Chateau Margaux, a French vineyard that produces some of the finest wine in the world, released three bottles from an extremely rare 2009 vintage in October of 2013 and displayed them at Le Clos’ flagship store at Dubai International Airport. The bottle’s sales price of slightly over $200,000 includes first class tickets to France, a private tour of the Margaux vineyard and dinner with the chief winemaker.
Although the 2009 Chateau Margaux is, technically speaking, the most expensive wine on the market today, it is more of a novelty concept than a possible purchase for the serious connoisseur.
Here is a list of the top 10 most costly wines an oenophile might hope to add to her collection, in order of the most to least expensive:
- Henri Jayer Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits Jayer’s French Burgundy Grand Cru tops the list with an average price of $15,398 a bottle. This is a balanced wine with more opulence than finesse.
- Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits At an average price of $13,378, this French pinot noir is said to be the purest and most intense example of a pinot one can find.
- Henri Jayer Cros Parantoux, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru Another Jayer wine, the Cros Parantoux is a small, rocky vineyard perched high above the Richeborg grand cru vineyard. The average sales price is $7,751.
- Egon Muller-Scharzhof Scharzhofberger Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese One of two Rieslings to make the top 10 list, this wine comes from Mosel, Germany. Only 100 to 200 bottles of this wine are produced each year, and that is one reason it commands such a high price. A bottle of this wine averages $7,329 a bottle.
- Domaine Leflaive Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune This white Burgundy from a small vineyard specializing in Chardonnay averages $6,053 a bottle.
- Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese The second Riesling on the list comes from a vineyard positioned in the finest region of Mosel, Germany. The average price for a bottle is $5,690.
- Domaine Leroy Musigny Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits Although the production of red wine dominates at this Grand Cru vineyard, Musigny is also known for its white wine. The average price for a bottle is $5,221.
- Domaine Georges & Christophe Roumier Musigny Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits This Grand Cru Burgundy averages $5,017 a bottle.
- Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune The Romanee-Conti is considered one of the finest specimens of Chardonnay that France produces. A bottle of the wine average $4,795.
- Henri Jayer Les Brulees, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru Jayer’s third Burgundy rounds out the list with an average price of $3,715 a bottle
