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Legendary 130-year-old wine, hidden by suspected Nazi sympathizers, unveiled after decades under castle floor

Eight bottles of a legendary French wine that survived World War II and decades of communist rule hidden under a Czech castle floor have been lovingly restored by the chateau that produced them some 130 years ago.

Legendary 130-year-old wine, hidden by suspected Nazi sympathizers, unveiled after decades under castle floor

TL;DR

  • Eight bottles of 130-year-old Chateau d'Yquem wine, made in 1892 and 1896, were discovered hidden under a Czech castle floor.
  • The wine survived World War II and decades of communist rule, originally belonging to the Beaufort-Spontin family.
  • Chateau d'Yquem restored the bottles, tasting a small quantity to ensure quality and replacing corks and capsules.
  • Five full original bottles were returned to Becov, with the castle planning an exhibition of the collection.
  • The entire collection of 136 bottles is valued at around $5 million, but the winery emphasizes its moral and historical significance.