On June 1, 2026, eight bottles of the famed French wine, Chateau d’Yquem, were restored by the chateau that first crafted them 130 years ago. These legendary bottles survived the adversities of World War II and years under communist rule, hidden beneath a Czech castle floor.
The mass collection, consisting of 136 bottles, resides at the Becov nad Teplou castle in western Czechia. Found in the 1980s, these wines, renowned for being some of the world’s most treasured sweet white wines, are slated for a future exhibition at the castle.
Chateau d’Yquem wines are globally esteemed, known for their extraordinary sweetness and complexity.
The discovery dates back to the noble Beaufort-Spontin family, who fled Czechoslovakia hastily at the end of World War II under suspicions of Nazi collaboration. Alongside the wine, the iconic Reliquary of St. Maurus, believed to hold St. John the Baptist’s bones, was hidden under the castle floorboards.
While the shrine underwent restoration promptly after its discovery and was showcased in Prague, the wine was neglected and remained in hiding. The wine’s discovery process linked to a secret attempt by an American businessman, Danny Douglas, in 1984, ended in its exposure after police intervention during the permit procedures.
A rescue operation commenced ten years ago, leading Chateau d’Yquem to restore eight bottles from vintages 1892 and 1896. According to Toni El Khawand, the winery’s cellar master, a small tasting verified the wine’s aromatic and balanced qualities, proving its authenticity.
After laboratory validation, the original bottles received new corks and protective capsules. Oxygen exposure during restoration necessitated re-bottling, resulting in only five complete original bottles returning to Becov.
El Khawand described the experience of tasting the wine, preserved by its high sugar content, as “magical.” Notable flavors include cedar, dried fruit, saffron, cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate, coffee, and mocha. Such aromas are typical in aged Chateau d’Yquem.
Though current Yquem vintages fetch hundreds per bottle, the Czech National Heritage Institute values this entire collection at approximately $5 million if auctioned. However, El Khawand emphasizes its historical significance over financial value, describing it as a “liquid memory” of past artisans’ efforts.
“It is a memory, ultimately—a liquid memory, to be sure—but it is a memory of all those who came before us, of the work that was done,” El Khawand explained.
Becov is not planning to auction the bottles; instead, they aim to display wines and cognacs, including an 1899 Pedro Ximenez sherry and an 1892 port. The castle has initiated a fundraising campaign for the exhibition.
Katerina Nyvltova, Becov’s collections manager, aims for a thorough analysis of the wines if finances allow, and plans to further restore additional bottles if feasible.
This unveiling coincided with Georgia’s recent revelation of a two-century-old trove of 20,000 rare bottles, associated with figures like French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte and Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.
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