It’s been a long enjoyable year and the drinks cabinet of the discerning gent has been carefully stocked, ready for the party season. Amongst your collection of favourite tipples there is something for all everyone. To end 2012 we thought to go big. Ludicrously big. We are talking money is absolutely no object at all this week as our recommendation for your drinks cabinet, if you have a spare million hanging around, is the rare Antique d’Yquem wine collection.<\/p>\n
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This extremely hard-to-find collection of 109 vintage Chateau\u2019s d\u2019Yquem\u2019s bottles has been assembled over three decades by a Parisian collector. Previously the wines were part of a family dynasty, having been part of the Lur-Saluces family for more than 300 years, before ownership moved onto the Parisian collector. The wines date all the way back from 1890 to 2009, showcasing a depth of provenance and pedigree rarely seen in anyone’s wine rack.<\/p>\n
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Sourced from the chateau\u2019s 113 hectares of ample vineyards situated between the villages of Sauternes and Fargues, the quality of this chateau\u2019s wine stems from the delicate production process. Small yields of grapes taken from 80% semillion and 20% sauvignon blanc are pressed three times before being transferred to oak barrels for maturation over three and a half years.<\/p>\n
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The history of the wine is fascinating. Over three centuries the wine has been served to monarchs who reigned during the span of the collection. Most notably, this includes the wedding of HRH Prince Charles to Lady Diana, and the dinner to celebrate the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. Now that’s some dinner party chit-chat to mull over if you’re lucky enough to be indulging in this wine for your collection.<\/p>\n
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