What are the ten best wines ever made? It seems a simple question, but can there ever be an answer? Probably not, so perhaps it’s a more rewarding task to come up with ten wines to try before you die; a money no object, billionaire’s bucket list of superstars from the greatest estates and the very best vintages.Are they the best ever? There’s a strong argument for each. Should you try them at least once in this lifetime if given the chance? Definitely.Here are our top ten. We’re not saying it’s the perfect or indeed definitive selection but would advocate that no one, given the opportunity to sample any of these before shuffling off this mortal coil, should turn it down.An immortal wine, decades away from full maturity, the 1947 Mouton Rothschild is, in Neal Martin’s words, “perfection.” From a superb, albeit tannic vintage, this 1945 took a long time to come round but at 50 years old, is now wowing those lucky enough to taste it. With perfect scores from both of the Wine Advocate’s Bordeaux critics, this is a bona fide legend of a Pauillac.One of the great wines, from one of the greatest ever Bordeaux vintages and most revered houses, this is as iconic as Bordeaux gets.

As perhaps the most famous of all St Emilion properties, Chateau Cheval Blanc is capable of unfathomably good wines. To single out the best is near impossible and makes this 1947 something truly special, showing what the Cabernet Franc grape is capable of. Called “the wine of the 20th century” by Parker as recently as 2007, it’s perhaps the benchmark against which all others can be measured.good wine brands indiaThe second entry from the legendary 1947 vintage and one of the finest Pomerols ever is the Chateau Lafleur. buy usa wine in ukThe hallmark of this hot, dry year was exceptional concentration and has meant that these Pomerols are still going strong today. best wine coolers to buyThe Lafleur continues to be one of the best, scored perfectly on numerous occasions, and is a candidate for the title of greatest Bordeaux ever made.1955 Biondi Santi Brunello di MontalcinoThe only Italian wine on the list fittingly comes from its most famous producer, Biondi Santi. the best red wine from spain

This Tuscan property invented Brunello di Montalcino and gained worldwide acclaim for their uncompromisingly traditional wines. The 1955 is widely considered the best ever and one of the finest from any time in the last century. Interestingly, they still have a few bottles in the cellar.1961 Paul Jaboulet, Hermitage La ChapelleThe sole Rhone on our list is an absolute legend. buy turning leaf wine onlineJaboulet’s Hermitage La Chapelle is an iconic wine of immense pedigree (recently returned to former glories after a period in the wilderness) and the 1961 sits atop the tree. where to buy a wine coolerThe finest Syrah ever made? red wine book clubAlmost certainly, though the 1978 and 1990 push it hard.top 10 wine in india with price

The first entry for what is almost certainly the most famous fine wine label in the world, the tiny Pomerol estate of Petrus. Described by Parker as “one of the most sumptuous, hedonistic bottles of wine anybody could ever consume” , this Petrus is confirmed as an absolute superstar.1962 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti, La TacheThe impossibly evocative and romantic byword for exclusive luxury, Romanee-Conti is perhaps the single most prestigious name in fine wine. best wine name in indiaThe DRC monopole of La Tache sits among some of the most famous and coveted vines in the world; Romanee-Conti, Richebourg and Romanee St. Vivant; and is always in huge demand. Having the best ever in the cellar makes it instantly world-class in terms of cachet and kudos.1999 Vogue Musigny Vieilles Vignes Possibly the most controversial inclusion on our list. 1999 was a great year for red Burgundy and one referred to by that most respected of wine writers, Michael Broadbent, as simply “a must.”

Even in this context, the Vogue Musigny is a standout and a superb example of the vintage, with this small parcel of some of the greatest wines in the world, working in perfect harmony with the perfect conditions to produce something utterly profound. Hugely beguiling stuff and the most affordable wine on our list.Arguably the single best wine from the most famous Bordeaux vintage in history. A monumental effort and one that will only keep getting better and better. Awash with perfect scores from the critics and one of the few to get a perfect 100 points from both the Wine Advocate’s Bordeaux critics; Robert Parker and Neal Martin.Cementing its reputation as a global brand and a byword for luxury and exclusivity, Petrus was the star of the best Bordeaux vintage since 1982. The Millennial was first of the so-called modern greats – 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010 – with this tiny Pomerol estate making the most of some exceptional conditions. About as profound and indeed prestigious as red Bordeaux gets.

So, are these the ten best wines ever made? Possibly, but for every wine here there are half a dozen more that are just as deserving of a place. The real answer is that there’s probably no real definitive top ten, particularly as few of us will be lucky enough to ever taste any of them in isolation, let alone side by side for comparative purposes. Still as wish lists go, it’s a great place to start.When you think of the price of wine, you usually associate it with the age, right? Well, that's only partly true, at least when it comes to some of the most expensive bottles ever sold. Here are 5 price tags that will pop your cork. 1. CHÂTEAU LAFITE, 1787 — $156,450 Okay, so, yes, 1787 is ancient, especially considering this bottle of Bordeaux at this price was sold in 1985. But don't forget, even the best Bordeaux only lasts about 50 years. Why the hefty price tag? Well, this particular bottle had the initial Th.J. etched into it. That's right, Jefferson was a hard-core oenophile.

During the time that he served as ambassador to France, he often traipsed out to Bordeaux and Burgundy looking for wine for his cellar back stateside. His initials etched into two other bottles have also fetched pricey sums: A 1775 Sherry that fetched $43,500, and — ready for this? — the most expensive bottle of white wine ever sold, a 1787 Chateau d'Yquem for $56,588. Price per glass: $26,075 2. JEROBOAM OF CHÂTEAU MOUTON-ROTHSCHILD, 1945 — $310,700 Okay, so now you're confused, right? First I said the most expensive bottle ever was about $160K and now at number two I've listed one that cost almost twice that. Three sheets to the wind? See, this bottle of red that sold in 2007 was a large bottle, not a standard-size. But take a look down below at the price per glass and you'll see which is truly the more expensive of the two. Had this giant bottle been a standard 750 ml bottle, it would have only sold for $51,783. (By the way, 1945 is considered one of the very best vintages of the 20th century and Mouton-Rothschild one the world's greatest clarets.

If you ever happen upon a bottle, don't drink it!) Price per glass: $8,631 3. INGLENOOK CABERNET SAUVIGNON NAPA VALLEY, 1941 — $24,675 Sold in 2004, this Cabernet is regarded as the most expensive bottle of American wine ever sold. Inglenook is now known as Rubicon and owned by Francis Ford Coppola, who is said to keep one of them (empty) on top of his refrigerator. "It was one of the best I'd ever had," he has said about the wine. So how did it taste? "There is a signature violet and rose petal aroma that completes this amazingly well-preserved, robust wine that had just finished fermentation at the time of Pearl Harbor." Talk about seeing the glass half-full. Price per glass: $4,113 4. CHÂTEAU MARGAUX, 1787 — $225,000 There I go again. And this is a standard 750 ml bottle. So what's it doing buried way down here? Well, this bottle actually resides in the Most Expensive Bottle of Wine Never Sold category. That's right, I said never sold. In 1989, the bottle collided with a tray at a wine dinner and New York wine merchant William Sokolin collected $225,000 from insurance!