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On the south of France, one of the most extraordinary and almost mythical objects in wine history is set to go under the hammer — a bottle of 1811 Château d’Yquem, a white wine vintage already described by collectors as “time in glass.”

The exceptional lot will be offered at The Beacons auction on May 31 in the Hérault region, and is already generating intense interest among fine-wine collectors and investors. The estimated price is €60,000–€80,000, though experts suggest the final bid could climb higher due to its rarity and status.

The bottle in question has survived more than two centuries of European history while remaining in astonishing condition. Its label, cork, and even the original hand-blown glass are described as nearly flawless — something considered virtually impossible for a wine of this age.

The 1811 vintage entered wine mythology under the romantic name “The Year of the Comet.” The Great Comet of 1811 shone across Europe for months, and Bordeaux winemakers believed the celestial event marked an exceptional harvest, producing grapes of unusual concentration and richness.

Adding to its mystique is its extreme rarity: only around ten authenticated bottles of this vintage are believed to exist today. Each is regarded less as a drink and more as a museum-grade artifact.

The last known tasting took place in 1998, when wine critic and auctioneer Michael Broadbent described the flavor as a complex blend of raspberry, cream, and a long, dry finish — an unusual profile for a sweet white wine.

Wine historians consider 1811 one of the greatest vintages in history for three reasons: ideal weather conditions, the astronomical event that gave it its legendary aura, and the large-scale export of wine during the Napoleonic era.

What further elevates its status is the fact that white wines are generally not designed to age for centuries. Château d’Yquem is a rare exception: its balance of sweetness, acidity, and noble botrytis allows it to evolve over hundreds of years, becoming a true collector’s obsession.

This is not the first time the vintage has made headlines: in 2011, another 1811 bottle was sold at London’s Ritz Hotel for around $120,000 and was officially recognized by Guinness World Records as the most expensive white wine in the world.

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