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| Delve into the fascinating world of rare vintages |
It’s hard to imagine that a non-fiction account about a bottle of wine could be such a page-turner. However, Benjamin Wallace’s The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine is just that.
The bottle in question is a Chateau Lafite from 1787 allegedly owned by Thomas Jefferson. Auctioned off by Christie’s in 1985 for a dazzling new record of over $150,000, the story made headlines and ushered in a new era of fawning over rare vintages.
What kicks this story into action is the bottle at the center of it all is faker than a Real Housewife of Beverly Hills’ face. Wallace crafts a compelling narrative filled with shady characters and cons in a setting that is purportedly sophisticated and elegant, the pinnacle of high society.
The details Wallace puts into his account are simply fascinating. To create a fraudulent vintage, the German wine dealer Hardy Rodenstock had to rely on laser-etching, ultraviolet-tagging and a special adhesive glue for the label. Faring no better in this story is Christie’s, seemingly at ease with letting patrons believe they were purchasing authentic vintages.
Beyond that Chateau Lafite I suppose this is also a story about wealth and greed, although isn’t it always? Auction houses now have methods in place to prevent any forgeries from making it into their cellars. However it’s my opinion you’re better putting your money into a savings account than a 1959 Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
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