A 100-year-old bottle of champagne – Krug Private Cuvee 1915, sold for $116,375 at Sotheby’s auction in New York. One of just four left in the cellars of the sparkling drink makers, this bottle had started bidding at $15,000 but quickly bubbled up as enthusiasts from Latin America, Asia, Europe, and the United States fought to own this collectible piece.
The lot sold Friday also included a two day visit to the House of Krug for 4 people, a tour of the vineyards, local cultural heritage, as well as gastronomic and historical highlights of the city of Reims, all led by Olivier Krug, the sixth generation member of the founding family and current director of the house. In addition to the Private Cuvee 1915, the buyer will also taste some of the rarest and most refined drinks made there, as well as a dinner prepared by Arnaud Lallement at his award-winning restaurant L’Assiette Champenoise.
The auction also offered three notable private collections that comprised: full cases of Lafite 1928 (estimate $9,000 – $12,000); a double magnum and imperial of Pétrus 1985 (estimate $13,000- $18,000 and $9,000-$12,000); three magnums of 1959 Latour (estimate $7,000 – $10,000); and a magnum of Cheval Blanc 1947 (estimate $28,000 -$40,000).