France's 5 rarest wines

What a pleasure to find rare winesThese are wines that are produced in very small quantities, but which are snapped up by connoisseurs. In France, it's definitely the Burgundy wines which are the rarest wines. Indeed, as Burgundy is a very particular region when it comes to viticulture, many cuvées are confidential and very rare. Burgundy's appellations are so small that they produce very little of their own wine. Some Rhône Valley wines are also represented in the ranking with the appearance in 5th position of Château Grillet. The limited presence of these wines on the market and the high demand for them make them virtually impossible to find. Discover the top 5 rarest wines and appellations in France.

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Top 5 rarest wines in France

 

•  La Romanée - Côte de Nuits, Burgundy

You might think that La Romanée-Conti is the rarest wine in France, but it's not. La RomanéeRomanée, with a vineyard estate of just 0.85 hectares, is the smallest AOC in France and one of the most prestigious in Burgundy. With an annual production of around 4,000 bottles, Romanée is the rarest of wines. It is extremely difficult to obtain, as production is very low, and enthusiasts are constantly on the lookout for this wine, so mythical because of its inaccessibility. The unattainable attracts, and nowhere is this truer than in the world of wine.

•  Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet - Côte de Beaune, Burgundy

Still in Burgundy, in the Côte de Beaune, the 1.57-hectare domaine de Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet is established. Between Pulligny and Chassagne Montrachet, the world's finest Chardonnay and white wines have been produced for many years. Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet is France's smallest white wine appellation. With an annual production of around 9600 bottles, virtually unobtainable, the Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet climate produces wines that are often very expensive.

• La Grande Rue - Côte de Nuits, Burgundy

The ranking is dominated by the presence of the Grands Crus Bourguignon. La Grande Rue takes 3rd place in the ranking of France's rarest wines. Located in the heart of the Côte de Nuits, the 1.65-hectare estate is the second wine in the ranking to be produced in the commune of Vosne-Romanée. Unusual in Burgundy and in common with La Romanée, La Grande Rue is a monopoly. Domaine François Lamarche is the only producer and marketer of this Grand Cru, with annual production averaging 7460 bottles. Unsurprisingly, France's 3rd rarest wine is also virtually impossible to find.

•  La Romanée Conti - Côte de Nuits, Burgundy

This may come as a surprise to some enthusiasts, La Romanée-Conti is only the 4th rarest Grand Cru in France. The most famous of Burgundy's Grands Crus, with a vineyard estate of 1.77 hectares, is produced on the Romanée-Conti climat at Vosne-Romanée. The Grand Cru is also a monopoly of the Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. With an annual production of 5 to 6,000 bottles, this mythical yet inaccessible wine is only available to those who can afford it. As a private individual, it's possible to buy at auction. But beware of counterfeits, of which there are many on the market. With a very low production and an exceptional reputation, the price rises to astronomical sums. In fact, the most expensive bottle ever sold in the world was a bottle of the Romanée-Conti 1945 vintage sold for 481,682 euros at the Sotheby's auction in New York. This is the record for the highest price paid for the world's most prestigious Grand Cru. A record that remains unbroken for the time being.

• Château Grillet - Northern Rhône, Côte du Rhône

Visit Rhône Valley enters the ranking of France's rarest wines with the Château Grillet and its 3.5 hectares. Owned by Francois Pinault since 2011, the Grand Cru is produced exclusively by the domaine of the same name. Located between the communes of Vérin and Saint-Michel-sur-Rhône, the estate produces a unique white wine in very small quantities. Château Grillet is the Rhône's smallest appellation contrôlée. With an annual production of around 10,000 bottles, it remains more accessible than the Grands Crus of Burgundy, although its price is also very high.

Discover our selection of rare wines and confidential cuvées

Comptoir des Millésime, the leading online retailer of rare and old vintages, offers you a selection of rare and old wines. rare wines and confidential cuvées from all French regions. These are wines produced in very small quantities, but with a strong reputation around the world.

 

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