Some pictures of the cellar

For a long time I have kept the empty bottles of wines that I have loved. In the room to have an idea, there are approximately 7000 to 8000 bottles.

here I made a picture of wines of Domaine de la Romanée Conti, presented as if it was a photo of pupils in a school

But I have also kept the corks and the capsules as they are objects of memory. What will be their use, I do not know but this is an existing memory.

Memories of capsules of Yquem, Romanée Conti and other precious wines.

Some pictures of the cellar of full bottles, which shows how I store bottles with a great efficiency in density of storage, but also with exposition of very old bottles.

when such old wines of the 19th century are drunk, they are kept in a special part of the room for empty bottles

some specific bottles that I have drunk

I consider the form of this bottle of Tokay 1819 as one of the nicest

Lafite 1844 is the oldest Lafite that I have drunk. and it is the greatest Lafite that I have drunk. It is a prephylloxeric wine.

Cyprus wine 1845 is my beloved wine. Probably the longest memory in mouth of all what I have drunk

Chateau Margaux 1881 not yet drunk.

This Blanc Vieux d’Arlay 1888 is the greatest white wine of Jura that I have drunk.

Lafite 1898 was drunk at the 200th dinner in Pavillon Ledoyen. Immense wine

Musigny Coron Père et Fils 1899 is a special wine that I have served on December 31, 1999 at 11:40 pm, in order that we go from 31/12/1999 to 01/01/2000 with a wine of 100 years. The one on the picture was drunk in Chateau d’Yquem during the 135th dinner

Lafite 1900 is a legend. Here one bottle with the year engraved in the glass and one with a label.

Mouton 1900 and Mouton 1945 are the greatest Mouton that I have had the chance to drink. When Mouton is great, it is immense.

Mouton, since 1945 has had labels designed by great artists, different every year. But for me the nicest is the Carlu design. This 1914 was served with a 1945 Mouton at the 86th dinner in Chateau d’Yquem, representing years of end of world wars. This label is put at the top of the front page of my blog.

Yquem 1921 is condidered as the greatest Yquem of the 20th century. I have drunk it several times.

I have drunk many prephylloxeric Romanée Conti. This 1922 was highly emotional.

Dom Pérignon 1929 is the oldest Dom Pérignon that I have drunk and it is also the greatest Dom Pérignon that I have drunk. Coming from my cellar, I have shared it with Richard Geoffroy, the « maitre de chais » of Dom Pérignon.

Les Gaudichots Domaine de la Romanée Conti 1929 is a pure legend. I bought it with my friend Tomo and we shared it with Aubert de Villaine, co-owner of Romanée Conti. It is the greatest wine of Romanée Conti that I have drunk.

Jerez 1859. Such wines have incredible complexities

Hermitage La Chapelle Paul Jaboulet Aîné can be considered as the greatest red wine that I have ever drunk. I was paralysed when I drank it, patalysed by its absolute perfection. It is for this reason that I put it in a large picture.

The Constantia of South Africa were, in the 18th century, the wines of the Kings and of the Princes. Even Napoleon was fond of this prestigious wine. I have the chance to have drunk an incredible 1791. These Constantias are myths.

The bottle in front was found in a boat which sunk in the sea in 1739. It could be from circa 1730. I was told that the taste is probably ugly due to the salt which went through the cork.

The bottle behind is the oldest of my cellar, evaluated circa 1690. I have drunk one third and the rest remains in the bottle. It was plain but drinkable. What an emotion to drink a wine which was made when Louis XIV was the King in France.