Legendary French Wine Rescued from Czech Castle

The Chateau d’Yquem, renowned for its exquisite sweet white wines, recently revived eight legendary bottles that survived a turbulent history. These bottles are part of a larger collection discovered under the floor of Becov nad Teplou castle in the Czech Republic.

Historical Discovery

The collection, comprising 136 bottles, was found during the 1980s. The wine once belonged to the prominent Beaufort-Spontin family, who hastily left the former Czechoslovakia post-World War II. They faced scrutiny over alleged Nazi collaboration.

For decades, the wine remained hidden alongside the historic Reliquary of St. Maurus, believed to contain St. John the Baptist’s bones, until it was uncovered by the communist secret police.

Restoration Efforts

The chateau initiated restoration efforts 10 years ago. Chateau d’Yquem led the process, ensuring these wines from 1892 and 1896 were examined and authenticated. The cellar master, Toni El Khawand, emphasized the importance of the wine’s freshness and aromatic balance.

El Khawand stated, We tasted small amounts to verify its authenticity as a Chateau d’Yquem of that era. Laboratory tests confirmed this, allowing the winery to update the corks and fit the original bottles with protective capsules.

Due to wine oxidation, the chateau managed to return five original bottles to Becov.

Exhibiting a Time Capsule

Speaking about the restored bottles, El Khawand described the tasting experience as a magical experience akin to opening a time capsule. The wine displayed characteristics such as acidic freshness, cedar, dried fruit, saffron, and cinnamon aromas, alongside notes typical of aged Chateau d’Yquem: chocolate, coffee, and mocha.

While current vintages of Chateau d’Yquem retail for hundreds of dollars, the entire collection holds significant historical worth, valued at approximately $5 million if auctioned. Yet, El Khawand stressed the moral and historical value over financial considerations.

Future Exhibition Plans

No immediate plans for auctioning are underway. Instead, Becov aims to present these remarkable bottles alongside others, including an 1899 Pedro Ximenez sherry and 1892 port. The castle launched a fundraising campaign to support this exhibit.

Collections manager Katerina Nyvltova expressed the intention for thorough wine analyses contingent on fundraising success. If we raise the money, we can recondition the rest, she noted.

Coinciding with Becov’s efforts, the Georgian government unveiled a historical trove of 20,000 rare bottles, some linked to Napoleon Bonaparte and Joseph Stalin.