The 10 Most Collectible Bottles of Wine

Niepoort: Vintage Port, Porto, Portugal 

The Niepoort family has been in the business for five generations. Their long-standing commitment to producing exceptional wine is evident in their 1963 vintage, which is one of the greatest vintages of the last century. The nose is impressive, with notes of hazelnut, plum, blackberry, and espresso crema. In the mouth, the wine’s structure is distinguished and fully achieved, displaying a superb balance between its sweetness, and tannins. It is a perfect choice to pair with a slice of fruitcake.

Bodegas Vega Sicilia; Unico Gran Reserva, Ribera del Duero, Spain 

Considered one of Spain’s most prestigious wine estates, Vega Sicilia was founded in 1864 with the planting of Bordeaux varietals alongside local grapes. The 1970 Unico is a wine of elegance and complexity, with a nose that is ample and seductive. This wine has notes of tomato leaf, black cherry, bay leaf, and vanilla. In the mouth, the wine is delicate, with noble tannins. 

Stag's Leap Wine Cellars: S.L.V Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, California, USA 

The 1973 S.L.V. from Stag’s Leap is a legendary Californian vintage. It made history in 1976, when it was judged number one in the  Judgment of Paris, organized by the British wine merchant Steven Spurrier. Today, the 1973, is a rare and highly sought-after bottle.

Giuseppe Quintarelli: Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico, Veneto, Italy 

Giuseppe Quintarelli, an exceptional winemaker and a legend in the Veneto DOC, has a deeply dedicated and traditional outlook. His unique winemaking process involves using late-harvest grapes that are then aged in old barrels of Slovenian oak. The wine is deeply flavored and intense, with notes of chocolate, plum, licorice, and cherry jam. 

Istvan Szepsy: Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos, Tokaj, Hungary

Tokay (tokaji in Hungarian) is a wine of unparalleled exclusivity, deeply rooted in the history of viticulture. Legend has it that tokay was Louis XIV’s favorite wine. The 1989 vintage by Ivan Szepsy features notes of honey, caramel, dried apricot, roasted pineapple, and white chocolate. The wine is dense, with a strong tension that gives it freshness and balance. This wine pairs excellently with an orange soufflé. 

Klein Constantia: Vin de Constance, Constantia, South Africa 

Klein Constantia, a wine that even Napoléon favored, is a product of a unique climate. This suburb of Cape Town is a historic winegrowing region with a number of centuries-old estates that take advantage of the microclimate created by the moist winds from False Bay. The nose has notes of crystallized fruit, roasted pineapple, apricot jam, saffron, papaya, and mango. 

Weingut F.X Pichler: Dürnsteiner Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau, Austria 

Kellerberg is the finest vineyard in the village of Dürnstein, and Franz Xavier Pichler is a winemaker who honors the traditions of his estate. Engaged in a lifelong quest for purity, precision, and perfection, Pilcher's exceptional treatment of Riesling reveals a particularly cool expression of the grape, showcasing a mineral-driven profile. The aroma features notes of coriander, gunflint, and citrus, particularly crystallized lemon peel. This wine pairs beautifully with lobster roasted over a wood fire.

Elements of this story are taken from The Impossible Collection of Wine by Enrico Bernardo.