“Red wine is a great accompaniment to meat,” Mario Lemieux, a retired Canadian professional hockey player and wine collector, once said. Well, Mario, especially if the red wine is way far more expensive than the meat you are gorging on.Over the years, the prices of some red wines have stolen the limelight away from the wine itself. Whether because of an iconic label, a former famous owner, or just simply a rare and highly valuable vintage, the wines in this list are surely some of the most lavish liquid purchases in the entire history.Buying any of the wines on this list would make most of us declare bankruptcy. However, if you have the money or the mood to buy a really expensive bottle then here are some of the most expensive and finest red wines in the world.This is not a definitive list admittedly, as the items here are sold differently: some are sold per bottle, jeroboam, or double-magnum.The wine market, please take note, has a lot of intermediaries which may have a direct effect on the prices.

Importers, wholesalers, as well as retailers are in the market to make a profit, so prices of wines may change depending on which level you’re dealing with. In addition, the prices of wines in auctions generally get out of hand and may result in heftier price tags.Considered one of the best vintages ever produced by its estate, 2009 Chateau Margaux’s three 12-liter bottles are offered for US$195,000 by exclusive wine merchant Le Clos in Dubai International Airport.Only six Balthazars have been produced, and only three of them are up for sale; all available exclusively through Le Clos. It is housed in a grand case of oak and raised on steel legs, with beautiful gold engravings by master craftsmen.It is quite amazing that this wine, which has around 750 ml in every bottle, is authenticated to be just 150 years old. If you want a bottle of this wine, feel free to shell out around $ 24,577 (that excludes tax, of course). However, if you are really feeling magnanimous and want a double-magnum bottle of the wine, you can have it for just around $124,469.In 2006, a double magnum of this wine was sold for a record $111,625 at a Sotheby’s auction.

The average price per glass? About $4,650.This wine enjoys the good reputation of the world’s finest Pinot Noir. Production is limited due to the strict yields but also because of the desire to capture the luscious fruit flavors in the berries. This wine is produced on a tiny parcel of land where vines are on the average over 50 years old.In 1996, eight bottles of this elegant wine were sold at Sotheby’s for US $224,900. The average price for a bottle of this wine is $20,975.The average price for a 750 ml bottle of this wine is $16,992. top 100 wines of the world 2015In 2007, a jeroboam of this wine, regarded as one of the greatest vintages of the previous century—was sold to a bidder at Sotheby’s New York. best quotes for wineAn astounding $310,700 or almost $77,675 per 750-ml bottle. best red wine to eat with pasta

A decade earlier, a jeroboam of this fine wine was bought by an anonymous bidder at Christie’s, London. The $114,614 price-tag is almost equal to $23,000 per 750 ml.Sold in 2004 for $24,675, this Cabernet is owned by Francis Ford Coppola. According to Coppola himself it was one of the best he’d ever had. “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.” he said.wine and beer businessOne of the most expensive wines in the world, Cheval Blanc 1947 enjoys the privileged status of being one of only two wines that have been awarded the Class A status in the Classification of Saint-Emilion wine. best italian white wine 2015In 2006, a three-liter bottle of this fine wine was bought at Vinfolio in San Francisco for $135,125 ($33,781 per 750 ml).dry white wine names

At $38,420 per bottle, Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1951 is considered the most expensive Australian wine. According to reports, there are just 20 bottles of this wine that exists at present. In May 2004, a wine collector in Adelaide shelled out a cool AUS$50,200 for a bottle at an auction house.A bottle of Chateau Lafite 1787 that was linked to Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States, was sold to Malcolm Forbes in 1985 for $160,000. Despite issues over the provenance of the wine and link to Jefferson, this wine is among the most expensive single bottles of wine ever sold.places to buy wine in londonKnown as the most expensive wine never to be sold, this wine’s initial price was around $500,000. best white wine for cooking with pastaIt was authenticated to be once part of the wine collection of Thomas Jefferson.Chateau Margaux 1787 was accidentally shattered in a Margaux Dinner by a waiter who knocked the bottle over and broke it. best cities for wine in italy

Insurers paid out around $225,000.This is the Grand Royale of all the most expensive wines out there. In a Napa valley wine auction in 2000, this wine got the highest bid, with a whopping price tag of around $500,000.One wine connoisseur described the wine as: “Exceptionally impressive. Sensational nose of jammy blackcurrants and subtle toasty oak. Stunningly proportioned, ripe, intense fruit, full body, great purity… inner-core of sweet, creamy, highly extracted blackcurrant/cassis fruit. Category: Financial News, Money & EntertainmentChampagne is one of the few wines that can be enjoyed anytime of day or night. The only problem with top Champagne brands is that they’re expensive. Fortunately, you can find a few great sparkling wines with similar profiles to the high-end Champagnes that are much more wallet-friendly. Here are the 7 top Champagne brands and some great alternatives for those who like to go off the beaten path. How much should I expect to spend on Champagne?

Champagne is a protected name for sparkling wine from the Champagne region in France. Because of demand, expect to pay a minimum of $35 for Champagne, whereas sparkling wine from somewhere else is often much less. Dom Perignon Champagne $150 Dom Perignon is a prestige cuvee owned by Moët & Chandon. DP is aged at least 7 years before release to ensure maximum deliciousness. Roederer Estate Brut is a sub $20 sparkling wine from California. It is the faux fur of Dom Perignon; Remarkably similar look, purpose and feel… from across the room. Veuve Clicquot Champagne $40 Veuve Clicquot’s yellow label is perhaps the most well marketed Champagne on the face of the planet. J. Laurens Brut Cremant de Limoux $14 K&L A great Cremant de Limoux or Cremant de Bourgogne will be equal to or even beat ‘Yellow Label’ for less that $20. We love Lucien Albrecht, J. Laurens and Martinolles. See a Map of Champagne See where Champagne comes from as well as a key for terms like “NM” and “RM” Champagne.

Ace of Spades Champagne $299 It’s easy to disregard Jay-Z’s hyped Champagne brand, but Armand de Brignac is actually quite well made. It has creamy bubble finesse and almond-orange notes. Ruinart Blanc de Blancs $59 K&L Sometimes you have to fight fire with fire. Ruinart is a prestige Champagne, but at $60 a bottle, it’s less than half the price. Bollinger is produced with a blend made primarily of Pinot Noir. Fruity and smoky flavors are more common in wines made with black grapes. Schramsberg finds their Pinot Noir in Alexander Valley and Carneros, CA. A slightly fruitier version but with the same crisp undertone. Cristal has a golden hue and honeyed nuances that carry on in a lingering finish. Cristal is a prestige vintage Champagne by family-owned Louis Roederer. Franciacorta is Italy’s answer to Champagne. While slightly less golden than Cristal and more simple on the palate, the style is just as rich. Perrier Jouet Champagne $38