Foto KEYSTONE/Martial Trezzini
This sale was a new milestone for the collectible wine market, according to Forbes. The previous record, set in 2018, was 558 thousand dollars, but the current result significantly surpassed it, demonstrating the rapid growth of interest in rare vintages.
According to Acker representatives, the 1945 vintage has long been considered iconic among collectors. Company chairman John Capon said the wine holds a special place in the history of winemaking and has exceptional flavor characteristics.
The bottle is additionally valuable due to its origin – it was previously stored in the cellar of the famous Burgundian winemaker Robert Drouhin, who for decades headed Maison Joseph Drouhin.
The uniqueness of this vintage is due to several factors at once. 1945 was the last year before the large-scale replanting of vines in the Romanée-Conti vineyard. In addition, the production volume was extremely limited – only about 600 bottles, which makes each of them a real rarity.
Experts also note the historical context: the grapes were harvested from vines that were not resistant to phylloxera, a pest that once decimated much of Europe’s vineyards.
Today, such wines are perceived not only as a gastronomic value, but also as unique artifacts reflecting the history and traditions of winemaking.
