Honestly The Price of Wine These Days

I was just musing over who might buy this bottle of Petrus 1947 at 36,000 euros a bottle (that's about £ 31,000 or about $45,000 to all those with falling currency! ) and on what occasion they might drink it when I suddenly remembered a book that had kindly be given to us this summer by Yves Michalon of Editions Michalon in Paris and one of our guests at La Grande Maison. The book was called Carnets D'un Collectionneur de Vins Anciens and as you can see from the moment I opened the first page I became engrossed.

Anyway my reason for mentioning it is that Francois Audouze, the book's author, has indeed found a way that you can try these wines. Check out www.wine-dinners.com and for a mere 1,500 - 2,000 euros (ish) plus your travel costs, you could be dining at a Michelin starred restaurant somewhere in the world and get to taste a tenth of each bottle that is opened during the meal. There are around 1o vintage wines in all, rare ones at that from Francois's own cellar. Here is the list for the 2009 January meal which still has eight places left.

Champagne Dom Pérignon Œnothèque 1988 Champagne Krug 1988 Château Haut-Brion blanc 1966 Château La Gaffelière Naudes 1959 Château Brane-Cantenac 1921 Volnay Clos des Santenots Domaine Prieur 1945 Nuits-Saint-Georges Camille Giroud 1928 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Audibert & Delas 1949 Château Loubens Sainte Croix du Mont 1928 Château Sigalas Rabaud 1959

Perhaps one day for VERY VERY special occasion eh?

In the meantime why not come and stay at La Grande Maison and partake in one of our special Wine Sampling Suppers, a delicious 4 course home cooked supper with local Loire Wines to match each course.