When price isn’t a concern, go for the heavy-hitters that start at one to two hundred dollars per bottle and go up to thousands of dollars per bottle, especially for mature vintages bought at auction.
The challenge in this range is finding the wines since many are on limited allocations, and have people on waiting lists to buy them. Almost all of these require aging to taste their best – at least five years, and some up to ten to fifteen years, or longer.
Start with California cult cabernets, such as Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Grace Family, Pahlmeyer, Cain Five, Far Niente and Opus One. You should also include Australia’s top drop, Penfolds, which also makes more affordable wines that cellar well.
Then jet across the ocean for top-growth Bordeaux châteaux, including Haut-Brion, Margaux, Mouton-Rothschild, Lafite, Latour, d’Yquem, Pétrus and Cheval Blanc.
From there, it’s just a Rolls Royce ride away to Burgundy for La Tache, Denis Mortet, Alain Burguet, La Romanée-Conti and Dominique Lafon.
And how about some vintage champagne from Dom Perignon, Krug, Veuve Clicquot and Bollinger. While you’re staying at the villa, don’t forget Italy’s Super-Tuscans such as Sassicaia and Tignanello for your custom wine cellar.
Oh, and don’t forget to invite me over when you uncork one of these beauties … I have so much more advice to give you ;)
