Top 5 Most Expensive Burgundy Wine
Burgundy wine is renowned worldwide for its elegance and prestige, often fetching astonishing prices at auction. From tiny Grand Cru vineyards in France’s Burgundy region come some of the rarest Pinot Noir bottlings that collectors will pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to obtain . Below we explore the top five most expensive Burgundy wines ever sold and what makes each one so valuable. (As noted in our roundup of France’s priciest wines, Burgundy dominates the very peak of the wine auction market.)
1. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1945 – Burgundy wine Crown Jewel
A Record-Breaking Burgundy Wine at Auction
When it comes to Burgundy’s most iconic wine, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti 1945 (or “DRC 1945”) stands in a league of its own. Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (DRC) is often considered the pinnacle of Burgundy wine, producing exquisite French Pinot Noir from its legendary Romanée-Conti Grand Cru vineyard . This monopole vineyard spans just 1.8 hectares, yielding only around 5,000 bottles in a good year. The 1945 vintage was extraordinarily scarce – only 600 bottles were produced before the old vines were uprooted and replanted . This exclusive Burgundy wine (100% Pinot Noir) is revered for its complexity, elegance, and historical significance.
In 2018, DRC’s 1945 Romanée-Conti set a world-record price. A single 750ml bottle sold for an astounding $558,000 at a Sotheby’s auction, and a second bottle from the same sale fetched $496,000, making it the most expensive wine ever sold at the time . These unprecedented prices cemented Romanée-Conti 1945’s status as Burgundy’s crown jewel and the ultimate prize for wine collectors. More than 75 years old, this Grand Cru Burgundy remains the holy grail of Pinot Noir.
2. Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux 1978 – A Pinot Noir Legend
The Masterpiece from a Burgundy Visionary
Henri Jayer’s wines are synonymous with Burgundy excellence, and his 1978 Vosne-Romanée Cros Parantoux is among the most coveted. Jayer was a visionary winemaker who famously turned the humble Cros Parantoux vineyard (a tiny Premier Cru parcel in Vosne-Romanée) into a collector’s dream. Despite Cros Parantoux not having Grand Cru status, Jayer’s Pinot Noir from this plot commands higher prices than most Grand Crus due to its sheer quality and rarity. In 2018, a Christie’s auction of Jayer’s personal cellar sent Burgundy enthusiasts into a frenzy . The top lot was a 15-magnum vertical spanning 1978 to 2001 that sold for over $1.17 million, but one bottle in particular stole the show.
A single magnum (1.5 L) of Jayer’s 1978 Cros Parantoux – considered by many to be his masterpiece – fetched $144,893 at that sale . This price (about $72,000 per standard bottle) set a new benchmark for Burgundy Pinot Noir by volume. Such figures underscore Henri Jayer’s legendary status in Burgundy. His 1978 Cros Parantoux offers an extraordinary combination of richness, finesse, and Burgundian terroir expression that collectors will pay a fortune to experience. Today, any bottle from Jayer – especially from the late 1970s and 1980s – is a prized trophy in the world of French wine connoisseurship.
3. Domaine Leroy Musigny 1991 – The Rising Star of Burgundy
Grand Cru Burgundy That Rivaled Romanée-Conti
Domaine Leroy has rapidly become Burgundy royalty in its own right. Led by Lalou Bize-Leroy (a former co-owner of DRC), this domaine crafts Pinot Noir Grand Crus so exquisite and rare that they often rival DRC’s wines in price . The Musigny Grand Cru from Domaine Leroy is particularly revered – a “young pretender” that even overtook Romanée-Conti in price at one point . One stunning example of Leroy’s ascent was seen in a recent high-profile auction.
In 2021, a 12-bottle case of Domaine Leroy Musigny 1991 sold for $460,650 at an Acker Wines auction in Delaware . This works out to over $38,000 per bottle, underlining just how sought-after Leroy’s Burgundy wines have become. (A second case of the same wine sold for nearly $450,000 in the same sale .) What makes Leroy Musigny so special? Tiny production and uncompromising quality. Lalou Bize-Leroy strictly limits yields in her Grand Cru vineyards, resulting in Pinot Noirs of incredible concentration, perfume, and longevity. Collectors covet these bottles for their intensity and rarity – they are modern legends of Burgundy. Domaine Leroy’s stellar reputation (with multiple Grand Cru cuvées in the top-tier price ranks ) ensures that its wines, especially vintages like 1991 Musigny, continue to appreciate in value and mystique.
4. DRC La Tâche – Romanée-Conti’s Rival in Rarity
Another Burgundy Grand Cru Breaking Records
Aside from Romanée-Conti, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s portfolio includes another Grand Cru monopole that enchants collectors: La Tâche. DRC La Tâche is a single-vineyard Burgundy wine that routinely commands huge prices, particularly in acclaimed vintages. For example, the 1990 La Tâche (a stellar year for Burgundy) has become legendary among enthusiasts. In a 2024 Sotheby’s Burgundy auction in Beaune, a case of 12 bottles of 1990 DRC La Tâche sold for €81,250 (about $90,000), far exceeding its estimate . This equates to over $7,500 per bottle for that vintage.
New auction records for La Tâche continue to be set. At the same event, a single magnum of 2005 DRC La Tâche fetched €35,000 (approximately $38,000) – a record price for that format . What drives this demand is La Tâche’s reputation for power, aromatic complexity, and longevity. Made by the same esteemed domaine and from old vine Pinot Noir, La Tâche showcases a slightly different slope of Vosne-Romanée terroir, often delivering a more muscular but profoundly nuanced profile. While typically a bit more “accessible” in price than Romanée-Conti, the best La Tâche bottles are still extraordinarily expensive Burgundy wines. These recent auction results confirm La Tâche’s status as a blue-chip French wine investment – a Grand Cru Burgundy that can stand nearly shoulder to shoulder with Romanée-Conti in both quality and price.
5. DRC Montrachet – The Ultimate White Burgundy
Pushing the Limits for French White Wine
Red Burgundy may dominate auction headlines, but white Burgundy has its own superstar: Montrachet. The Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru is widely regarded as one of the finest white wines in the world. Produced from Chardonnay vines in the hallowed Le Montrachet vineyard, DRC’s Montrachet is made in tiny quantities (often fewer than 250 cases per year) and offers an unparalleled expression of richness, minerality, and finesse in a white wine. It regularly tops the list as the most expensive white Burgundy on the market . Recent auctions have proven that enthusiasts will pay record sums to obtain these bottles as well.
In 2024, a lot of 2007 DRC Montrachet broke records when it sold for more than €15,800 per bottle (about $17,000) – over 50% higher than the previous record for this wine . This demonstrates that even Burgundy’s whites can reach astounding prices. Another Domaine, Leroy’s Domaine d’Auvenay, has also seen its rare white Burgundies (like Chevalier-Montrachet) soar to similar heights , underscoring the trend. What makes DRC Montrachet so special is the almost mythical balance it strikes: at once opulent and racy, with layers of honeyed fruit, truffle, and limestone-driven precision. For lovers of French wine who crave the pinnacle of Chardonnay, DRC Montrachet represents the ultimate indulgence. Its auction prices, climbing into five figures per bottle, solidify its place among the most expensive Burgundy wines ever, and certainly the priciest white wine in Burgundy’s history.
Conclusion: The sky-high prices of these Burgundies reflect their unmatched combination of heritage, scarcity, and quality. Each bottle is a piece of vinous history, whether it’s a wartime vintage from a famed Grand Cru vineyard or the magnum opus of a legendary vintner. While few wine lovers will ever get to taste these treasures, exploring Burgundy’s wines on a smaller scale can still be immensely rewarding. In fact, Garrafeira da Ilha offers ways to experience Burgundy’s charm more accessibly – for example, our Best of France 12-Bottle Case includes a selection of reds and whites (including Burgundy Pinot Noir) that showcase France’s wine heritage without breaking the bank. Whether you’re a collector tracking auction records or an enthusiast savoring a village Pinot, Burgundy’s wines continue to captivate the world with their magic and mystique.
