The world’s most exclusive luxury tasting in pictures

A pictorial review of a once-in-a-lifetime, weekend-long tasting at Burgundy’s Château de Mercurey shows how the rich wine lover really lives.

Held from 14-16 December, the tasting claimed to be the most exclusive luxury tasting in the world, and was organized by The White Club.

As previously reported by the drinks business, members of this fine wine club, which costs €15,000 to join, were offered the chance to try 12 pre-phylloxera wines from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, among other vinous gems, as part of a weekend of fine wine tasting which cost €12,000 per person.

Along with historic vintages from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, attendees tasted wines from Henri Jayer, every first growth Bordeaux producer, Pétrus, Penfolds and Vega Sicilia, while enjoying cooking by Michelin-starred chef Philippe Augé from the Hostellerie de Levernois.

The White Club arranges around 10 to 12 public tastings each year all around the world and has its own cellar containing around 10,000 fine wines.

All the following pictures were taken by Daniel Nel.

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s Aubert de Villaine selects bottles for the tasting from the famous estate’s cellars. Attendees began the weekend on Friday morning with a tasting of DRC wines from six decades, including Romanée-Conti 1957, 1978, 1997; La Tâche 1928, 1947, 1963, and Richebourg 1963, 1975.

Domaine de la Romanée-Conti’s Aubert de Villaine with Malene Meisner, CEO of The White Club. Malene is a sommelier and events organiser and set up The White Club to focus on tasting the finest and rarest wines in the world.

Burgundy’s Château de Mercurey was the chosen venue for the weekend of tastings and fine dining. The nineteenth century château has eight bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom. It also contains a gym and a sauna.

Attendees of the weekend enjoyed cooking by Michelin-starred chef Philippe Augé. “This weekend will be a once in a life time experience that includes an itinerary of culinary and wine delights and experiences that no-one has ever before witnessed,” commented Malene Meisner, CEO of The White Club, speaking to db ahead of the three-day break.

Aubert with Guillaume-Alexandre Marx, sales manager at Swiss luxury watchmakers Parmigiani Fleurier. Access to the White Club is by invitation only, and is limited to 50 members worldwide.

A dinner on the first evening of the weekend was consumed with Romanée-Conti 1922, 1923, 1929, 1935, 1942, 1954, 1969, 1973, 1974 and 1975; La Tâche 1940 in magnum, along with 1973, 1975, 1976, 1990, 2002 and 2003 in bottle; Richebourg 1940 Magnum, as well as 1945 and 1999 in bottle, and finally, Grands Échezeaux 1969 and 2003.

It wasn’t just Burgundy that was consumed, and the rich revellers were allowed to wind down with Krug rosé and Perrier-Jouët 1961.

On Saturday, lunch was served with Romanée-Conti 2003 and 1989; La Tache 1962, 1964 and 1978; Échezeaux 1958 and 2003; Grands Échezeaux 1957; Romanée-Saint-Vivant 2003; Richebourg 2003; Henri Jayer Échezeaux 1992 and Henri Jayer Cros Parantoux 1979.

For those still wanting more, an extra €800 bought attendees a dinner on Saturday evening paired with 1982 Château Mouton Rothschild; 1996 Château Lafite; 1929 Château Margaux; 2007 Epicurean; 2010 Vilafonté M Series; 1990 Château Latour; 1984 Ornellaia Maiden vintage; 2006 Masseto; 2003 Quintarelli Amarone; 1970 Vega Sicilia Unico and 1998 Château Pétrus, plus “Burgundy Surprises”.

Furthermore, an optional Sunday tasting costing €1200 comprised a lunch with the following wines: Pingus, Penfolds Grange, Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Latour, Château Lafite, Château Pétrus, Château Margaux, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Cheval Blanc, Château Haut-Brion, Vega Sicilia Unico and Château Ausone along with, from Burgundy, grand cru wines from Chambertin, Clos de Beze, Charmes Chambertin, Clos de La Roche, Clos de Tart, Bonnes Mares, Musigny, Clos de Vougeot, Echézeaux, Grands Echézeaux, La Grande Rue, Richebourg and Romanée St-Vivant.

Finally, the weekend closed with a dinner on Sunday night where all five first growths were served from the 1988, 1998 and 2008 vintages.

As the weekend drew to a close, organiser Malene Meisner posed among some of the bottles consumed.