Today, sparkling wine is made from grapes of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or Pinot Meunier all over the world.
But some bottles of bubbly are so exclusive they're available only in high-end clubs or by special order. Many of them have retail values of up to tens of thousands of dollars.
Alcohol comparison site Under The Label provided us with a list of the top 10 most expensive bottles of Champagne in the world. Check them out below.
10. Salon Blanc De Blancs Le Mesnil-Sur-Oger (1.5 L Magnum) 2002 — $899
Blanc De Blancs Le Mesnil-Sur-Oger 2002 is the essence of Salon. It's the only Champagne produced by the label and comes from a precise blend of Chardonnay grapes from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs region of Champagne, France.
This sparkling wine is powerful and lively, yet delicate with "flavors of honeyed orange flower, candied citrus fruits, and madeleine buns fresh from the oven." To taste, the Champagne is both rich and restrained.
9. Champagne Krug Vintage Brut (1.5 Liter) 1988 — $949.99
Since 1843, six generations of the Krug family have cultivated a uniquely exceptional Champagne through "painstaking care and unrivaled craftsmanship." They're the only Champagne house that still ferments their wine in small oak casks.
The Krug 1988, which spent more than a decade aging, "explodes on the palate with tremendous depth and complexity" and maintains a surprising freshness with "spiced notes of dried figs and ripe quince."
8. Champagne Krug Clos Du Mesnil Blanc De Blancs 1995 — $969
"Fanatics of rarity" will go wild for this highly sought-after 1995 vintage Champagne that was just released from the Krug cellars. The Blanc de Blancs has "rich nutty and honey notes of great Chardonnay wines" coupled with "crispness, freshness, and vivacity."
7. Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill (3 Liter) 1988 — $1,175
Pol Roger is one of the few remaining family-owned grand marque — or big brand — Champagne houses that produces less than 120,000 cases per year. British dignitary Sir Winston Churchill favored Pol Roger Champagne and later became the inspiration for this yeasty and aromatic 1988 blend.
6. Veuve Clicquot Yellowbeam Ostrich Limited (3 Liter) — $1,599
The world-renowned winemakers behind Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label created only 3,200 limited-edition bottles of this Yellowbeam Ostrich Champagne. The bottle's label (not pictured here) features exotic Ostrich leather seals and 22.4-carat gold, topped with a collectible 24-carat gold-plated muzzle cap engraved with Madam Clicquot's signature.
This Champagne has a blend of 50 to 60 different crus and lives up to the company's centuries-old motto: "Only one quality – the finest."
5. Armand De Brignac Brut Gold (Ace of Spades) (3 Liter) — $2,239
The Armand de Brignac Brut Gold is the label's flagship cuveé, pressed from a perfectly balanced blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier wine. This non-vintage Brut Gold is lively and full-bodied with "subtle brioche accents" tending to a deliciously creamy texture and a "long, silky finish."
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The gold Armand de Brignac bottle was unveiled in 2006 and originally developed by Cattier for the André Courrèges fashion house in France. In 2014, rapper Jay-Z acquired the luxury Champagne brand for an undisclosed amount.
4. Champagne Krug Clos D'Ambonnay 1995 — $3,999
This single-vineyard Champagne was developed, vinified, and aged by the Krug brothers for 15 years and debuted with one of the highest-ever price tags for a newly released wine. The Clos D'Ambonnay — of which only 250 cases were released — is a Blanc de Noirs made entirely from Pinot Noir. It comes from a southeastern village where "exposure tends to yield richer, fuller wines."
3. Armand De Brignac Brut Gold (Ace of Spades) (6 Liter) — $6,500
This Armand de Brignac Brut Gold is the label's 6-liter flagship cuveé, pressed from a perfectly balanced blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier wine. Just as with the smaller bottle, this non-vintage sparkling wine is lively and full-bodied with "subtle brioche accents" tending to a deliciously creamy texture and a "long, silky finish."
2. Dom Pérignon Rosé By David Lynch (Jeroboam, 3 Liter) 1998 — $11,179
This Dom Pérignon Rosé comes from the largest Champagne house in France, Moët et Chandon. The bottle is one of 10 designed by Hollywood director David Lynch specifically for Dom Perignon. This vintage rosé has floral, orange peel, and dried fruit aromas and "reveals a fullness of texture coupled with a remarkably balanced structure that is both sophisticated and clear-cut" to the taste.
1. Dom Pérignon Rose Gold (Mathusalem, 6 Liter) 1996 — $49,000
Only 35 bottles of the 6-liter gold-plated Dom Pérignon Mathusalem were produced. On the nose, this vintage rosé has aromas of malt complemented by smoky, peaty accents. To taste, it's strong, tense, radiant, and sharp with a firm finish.
