Made by Grange pioneer Max Schubert, this wine laid the ground for the revolution in Australian winemaking that followed. A blend of one-third Coonawarra Cabernet and two-thirds Barossa Shiraz which Aussie guru James Halliday describes as 'the finest Australian wine ever made - a glorious wine with potent cedar, blackcurrant and espresso aromas and a finely woven tapestry of innumerable flavours.' Andre Tchelistcheff, founding father of California wine, once instructed a room of Napa vignerons to 'stand in the presence of this wine'. £500
1982 Pichon Lalande is an unusual style, with an over-ripe, exotic quality which David Peppercorn finds 'irresistable'. It was the first case of 'serious' wine Andrew Jefford ever bought, using £250 which his great-aunt left him. 'It cost about £90 in 1984,' he says. 'Needless to say, it was an extremely lucky hit.' Although calssified as a Pauillac, one third of the Pichon vineyard is actually in Saint-Julien. Ownership of the estate was decided in 1978 by family members drawing lots after a bitter feud. £2000 (case of 12)
As well as being a seminal year in Bordeaux, 1947 is generally credited as the Loire's best post-war vintage. It is 'an extraordinary vintage', says Jim Budd. 'Now in its early middle age, the 1947 is wonderfully complex and is likely to still be drinkable in 2104.' John Livingstone-Learmonth credits its 'cornucopia of scents, flavours and memories,' as responsible for setting him off on the wine trail. 'It has wonderful artistic presence,' he says. Expect to be able to cut through foie gras with ease and a dash of honey, apricot and vanilla. £800 in magnum
At last a white wine. And a Chardonnay at that. 'Le Montrachet is Chardonnay at its most perfect - the slowest to mature, the longest lived,' says Clive Coates MW. It embodies everything on can hope for from white Burgundy. Montrachet is split between Puligny- and Chassagne, with DRC owning vines in Chassagne. Its 1978 is a 'fabulous, textbook white Burgundy with gunflint, crisp Chardonnay notes, and enormous perfume which lasts in the empty glass for hours,' says John Radford. £1500
Big, fat and ripe, Richebourg lasts. That said, Burgundy guru Clive Coates MW reckons the 'marvellous' 1959 is reaching its zentith, so if you've got any bottles lying around, you might want to reach - gently - for the corkscrew. 1959 was on of the great Burgundy vintages of the 20th century and marked 'the end of an era' according to Michael Broadbent. 'Superb Pinot Noir perfume, deep, deep fruit and rich maturity, full and powerful,' is John Radford's verdict. £1000
David Peppercorn MW describes Yquem 1921 as 'one of the miracles of the last century; it hardly seems to have changed for the last 30 years'. The 1921 harvest took 39 days to pick and was the last vintage that Yquem owner Le Comte de Lur-Saluces sold in cask. The wine is the stuff of legends, described by Michael Broadbent as 'a colossus' and 'the most staggeringly rich Yquem of all time'. On this basis it edges out the 1983 Chateau d'Yquem, made when growing conditions and a large harvest ensured of Sauternes' great years. £1375
Chave's wines need time, both in bottle and in glass. This colossus is only just starting to come to the boil now, opening up from earthy blackcurrants to smoky, leathery meatiness which demands your full attention. Nick Adams was 'awestruck' by the intensity, richness, balance and expression of terroir. 'After a couple of hours it was sublime: it has all the ingredients for another 20-30 years,' he says. 'Not only the greatest Hermitage I have ever tasted, but possibly the greatest red.' £900
1978 La Tache is noted by Robert Parker as: 'among the greatest red burgundies I have ever tasted', while Huon Hooke says it is, 'all about fragrance, finesse and balance'. Romanée-Conti's exclusively-owned monopolie vineyard, the 6ha La Tache, is the domaine's largest. Yet it produces just 1880 cases a year. While the productions are miniscule - and, at 20-25hl/ha, massively concentrated - the prices are huge. Rarely anything but spectacular and fascinating, says Burgundy expert Anthony Hanson. £15,000 (case of 12)
For Bordeaux purists, Latour's austere expression of Cabernet remains the benchmark, with the Pauillac first growth among the most consistent of chateaux. A 100-point Parker wine, the 1961 is 'almost beyond words' according to Chris Munro of Christie's. 'It's a pure, port-like, majestic wine with hints of mint, cedar and great concentration of fruit.' Jasper Morris of Berry Bros describes it as 'glorious and near its peak, though it may still be nearing its peak in 20 years time'. £34,000 (case of 12)
'Without doubt the greatest claret of the 20th century,' says Michael Broadbent. 'Intense, concentrated, indescribable, with years of life left.' Serena Sutcliffe MW agrees: 'the most complete claret ever made.' As well as the end of the war, 1945 saw frosts, drought and excessive heat in Bordeaux. The resulting wine is the very symbol of triumph over adversity. Young artist Philippe Julian designed the 'V' for victory label, which captured the celebratory mood of the time, and became an icon.
<img src="/imageBank/v/vinolok2.gif">
£42,000 (case of 12)
