Top 5 Most Expensive Bordeaux Wine
Bordeaux wine is renowned as a pinnacle of French red wine quality and luxury, making it a cornerstone of the fine wine world. The most coveted bottles from this region have stunned the world with record-breaking prices at auction. In this article, we uncork the stories behind the top five most expensive Bordeaux wines bottles ever sold. These legendary red wine treasures – often rare vintage wine classics cherished by fine wine collectors – reveal why Bordeaux holds an unmatched allure in the wine world.
1. Château Mouton-Rothschild 1945 – Legendary Bordeaux Wine First Growth
A Historic ‘Victory’ Vintage of 1945
Château Mouton-Rothschild 1945 is a celebrated First Growth Bordeaux wine from Pauillac with an extraordinary backstory. Bottles of this French wine feature a special label with a golden “V” for victory, commemorating the Allied victory in World War II. The 1945 vintage itself was exceptional in quality, often hailed as one of the greatest red wine vintages of the 20th century.
In 2007, a bottle of the 1945 Mouton-Rothschild made auction history. It sold for an astounding $310,700 at a Sotheby’s New York sale – a world record for any wine at that time. This rare vintage wine commanded such a price thanks to its wartime significance and near-mythical status among collectors.
2. Château Cheval-Blanc 1947 – The Opulent Saint-Émilion
An Iconic Right Bank Bordeaux Wines Vintage
Château Cheval-Blanc 1947 is an iconic Saint-Émilion blend that epitomizes opulence in Bordeaux’s winemaking history. Produced on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, this legendary wine owes its richness to an unusually hot summer, which yielded intensely ripe Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapes. The result was a red wine of incredible concentration and sweetness – often cited as one of the greatest French wine vintages ever made.
In 2010, a rare imperial (6-liter) bottle of the 1947 Cheval-Blanc sold for $304,375 at a Christie’s auction in Geneva. This record-breaking price underscored the wine’s rarity and iconic status. It remains one of the most expensive vintage wines ever sold.
3. Château Margaux 1787 – The Fabled “Jefferson” Bottle
A Bordeaux Wine with Presidential History
Château Margaux 1787 is the most storied Bordeaux vintage of the 18th century, famously known as the “Thomas Jefferson bottle.” Inscribed with Jefferson’s initials “Th.J,” this bottle was believed to come from his personal collection. Beyond its presidential connection, the 1787 Margaux comes from a revered estate that has produced elegant French red wine for centuries.
In 1989, a collector paid around $225,000 (approximately €210,000) for the 1787 Margaux – at that time the highest price ever paid for a wine. Sadly, the bottle was accidentally knocked over at a dinner and shattered. Insurance still honored its record value, and the legend of the “Jefferson bottle” lives on in wine history.
4. Château Lafite-Rothschild 1869 – Record-Shattering Bordeaux Wine Auction
A Timeless 19th-Century Bordeaux Treasure
Château Lafite-Rothschild 1869 is a timeless treasure from Bordeaux’s Pauillac region and one of the oldest vintage wines to achieve a record price. Lafite-Rothschild has long been synonymous with luxury in the French wine world, celebrated as a First Growth since 1855. Its 1869 vintage is exceedingly rare – a survivor from the 19th century that captivates fine wine collectors. An untouched bottle of this venerable Bordeaux carries immense prestige due to its age, pedigree, and remarkable state of preservation.
In 2010, a Sotheby’s Hong Kong auction saw three bottles of Lafite 1869 sell for a combined $600,000 (around $200,000 each). This record-shattering sale highlighted Asia’s intense demand for top Bordeaux, where Lafite is a revered status symbol. To this day, Château Lafite 1869 stands as an icon of Bordeaux’s winemaking heritage at the pinnacle of the auction market.
5. Château Lafite-Rothschild 1787 – A Historic Bordeaux Wine Relic
The Oldest Bordeaux to Top Price Records
Another Jeffersonian relic, Château Lafite 1787 was similarly connected to Thomas Jefferson’s collection. Like the Margaux 1787, it bore “Th.J” initials linking it to Jefferson. Despite questions about its authenticity, the lure of owning a piece of history drove its price sky-high. The 1787 Lafite embodies the ultimate blend of vintage wine rarity and history.
In 1985, Malcolm Forbes paid $156,450 for the 1787 Lafite – the first wine ever to break the six-figure price barrier. Although debates about its origin followed, that record cemented the 1787 Lafite’s legendary status in wine lore. It remains an object of fascination for fine wine connoisseurs.
Conclusion: Bordeaux’s top wines routinely command stratospheric prices in the fine wine market due to their rarity, heritage, and legendary status. These five bottles demonstrate how Bordeaux wine combines history, quality, and prestige like no other. While few can ever taste these record-setting vintage wines, their stories continue to fascinate wine lovers and fine wine collectors alike. For those inspired to explore Bordeaux’s magic on a smaller budget, remember that Garrafeira da Ilha offers a curated selection of Bordeaux red wines and other French wine gems at accessible prices. And if you’re curious about other wine regions reaching the heights of luxury, check out our posts on the Top 5 Most Expensive Greek Wine and Top 5 Most Expensive Italian Wine. Each bottle has a tale to tell – and in Bordeaux, those tales are truly the stuff of legend.
