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. buy spanish wine online usaTo single out the best is near impossible and makes this 1947 something truly special, showing what the Cabernet Franc grape is capable of. basic red wine listCalled “the wine of the 20th century” by Parker as recently as 2007, it’s perhaps the benchmark against which all others can be measured.best wine labels 2012The second entry from the legendary 1947 vintage and one of the finest Pomerols ever is the Chateau Lafleur. buy north dakota wineThe hallmark of this hot, dry year was exceptional concentration and has meant that these Pomerols are still going strong today. best wine themed gifts

The 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. best wine bar nice franceThis 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. Jaboulet’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. The finest Syrah ever made? Almost certainly, though the 1978 and 1990 push it hard.

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. The 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.“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. In 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. An astounding $310,700 or almost $77,675 per 750-ml bottle. 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.One 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. In 2006, a three-liter bottle of this fine wine was bought at Vinfolio in San Francisco for $135,125 ($33,781 per 750 ml).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.