A bottle of 1869 Chateau Lafite Rothschild was sold at an auction in Hong Kong for $233 973 in 2010.

But not all wines are rare collectibles worthy of such high prices. To be considered collectible, a glass of wine should be of exceptional quality and can age gracefully for many years, if not decades.

Producer Reputation

A high-quality vintage wine would be produced by a respected vintner in the best wine regions worldwide. These premium wines are very popular with wine lovers who will often pay high prices.

Look out for winemaker labels such as Marchesi Antinori, Chateau Mouton Rothschild, and Dom Perignon.

Scarcity

Fine, expensive wine bottles are often produced in limited quantities. The high demand and limited availability increase the wine’s prices, making it ideal for a collector.

Vintage

The vintage year of the wine helps you determine the quality of the harvest and, in turn, the wine. Vintage wine from an exceptional year is more likely to age gracefully and fetch higher returns.

Burgundy’s 2005 and 2015 years were exceptional for growing Burgundy grapes, which resulted in powerful, rich wines.

Longevity

For a wine to be collectible, it should be able to spend at least five years in the cellar and develop excellent nuances. Usually, a cellar-worthy red wine like Burgundy can age 10-50+ years.

Gran Reserve Rioja is another great example of collectible white wine. It can be aged between 10 and 30 years.

Critic Reviews

Reviews from famous wine critics and magazines like Robert Parker and Wine Advocate will help any wine collector decide on the best fine wine.

Robert Parker has awarded the 2018 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon 100 points. It is currently on sale for more than $4,800.

Before you buy a bottle of wine, check out Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate before buying.

Provenance

A wine’s provenance will help you identify the wine’s authenticity, storage conditions, and previous owners.

Knowing the origin of wine will help you decide whether it is worth collecting.

Napa Valley

Napa Valley is just 6 hour drive from Los Angeles. It produces a variety of varietal, blended red, white and rose wines.

It is most well-known for its robust Cabernet Sauvignon wine, which is age-worthy. Screaming Eagle is one of the best Napa Cabernet Sauvignons. It can be aged for up to three decades.

Best Napa Valley Wines:

  • 2018 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon ($4,983): This Napa Cabernet leaves a dark fresh cherry flavour on the palate with lavender perfume.
  • 2018 Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia ($287): The nose has anise, cigar, and violet aromas, while the palate is full-bodied with bold tannins – perfect for every collector.

Burgundy

Burgundy is home to some of the best Chardonnay white wines and Pinot Noir red wines. Grand Cru Pinot Noirs can last up to 50 years.

Best Burgundy Wines:

  • 2005 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Romanee-Conti Grand Cru ($31,381): A must-have for every wine collector, this Romanee-Conti has bold acidity, smooth texture, and ripe black fruit on the palate.
  • 2015 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue Musigny Grand Cru ‘Cuvee Vieilles Vignes’ ($1,230): This Musigny wine has a strawberry perfume. The palate has a long finish with balanced acidity and black-cherry fruit.

Bordeaux

Bordeaux is well-known for its red wines made with Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grape varieties. Some red wines will contain Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in small quantities.

The five First Growths are the most collectible bottles. Chateau Lafite, Chateau Rothschild Chateau Margaux Chateau Haut-Brion Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Latour are the best.

Best Bordeaux Wines:

  • 1986 Chateau Leoville-Las Cases’ Grand Vin de Leoville’ ($ 574): The nose has tobacco and licorice notes, while the palate has powerful, textured tannins.