Sotheby's Finest and Rarest Wines auction, held on November 13-14 in London, has seen the 1914 Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage sell in celebration of the winery's 270th anniversary.
 The 1914 harvest was brought forward due to the war |
The "opulent" two bottle lot sold for £10,340 ($16,573), making a 72.3% increase on its £6,000 high estimate.
The auction showcased Moet & Chandon's Grand Vintage collection, with bottles consigned directly from the house's cellars. The selection, chosen by Moet's chef de cave Benoit Gouez, spanned 1914-2004.
"The opulence and velvet curtains texture indicate the small vintage, harvested at such a critical time. The ripeness is the underlying power factor in this monumental champagne," said Sotheby's head of wine Serena Sutcliffe of the 1914.
Gouez explained: "The harvest was brought forward due to the war, and the wine took a long time to develop, but today it is truly remarkable."
At the top of the sale, an original wooden case of La Tache 2009 sold for £25,850 ($41,433). Still a young wine, the 2009 is described by Sutcliffe as having a "positively wicked perfume", and is comparable to the illustrious 1999 vintage.
Also selling well was the 1994 Echezeaux from Henri Jayer, 12 bottles of which made a 20.6% increase on the £18,500 high estimate to sell for £22,325 ($35,783).
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