Pricey Petrus

Chateau Petrus has broken the record price for not-yet-bottled Bordeaux as buyers are coughing up £20,000 to get hold of cases of the 2005. The wine from this chateau consistently ranks as one of the world’s most expensive, but never before has it sold with such a hefty price tag en primeur. As there’s no guarantee that the wine will be worth more when it’s bottled in two years’ time, those buying as an investment will be hoping that influential wine critic Robert Parker gives it an even higher rating than his current 96-100 score when he retastes it then. Although those who buy Chateau Petrus now won’t take delivery until 2008, if they could have a sip of their wine today it would be a mere £50 mouthful!