Best Wine To Collect: 10 Investment-Grade Bottles To Buy in 2024

You’d think the best wine to collect has to be rare and extremely expensive.

But, a successful wine collection should be diverse and exciting, exploring different wine styles, vintages, and regions. You should also aim for a mix of age-worthy and easy-drinking wines.

In this article, we’ll cover the main wine types you need in your collection, the 10 best collectible wine bottles to buy in 2024, and important factors to consider before you start wine collecting. We’ll also explore why starting a wine collection is a good investment and how Vinovest can help you in this journey.

3 Types Of Collectible Wines

A wine collection should ideally be diverse and include a few different types of collectible wines, including:

1.  Easy-Drinking Young Wines

Easy-drinking wines are best enjoyed shortly after they’ve been released, and they don’t have an extensive aging potential. 

So why buy them?

This wine category is a great addition to any starter collection since you don’t have to break the bank. Additionally, you can always uncork one while waiting for your age-worthy labels to mature!

Here are a few examples of easy-drinking young wines:

• Italian Pinot Grigio
• New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc
• Australian Pinot Noir
• French Gamay
• Italian Moscato d’Asti

2. Blue-Chip Wines

Blue-chip wines are those brands that are widely renowned and frequently traded. They’re the safest bet for a beginning wine collector as they usually increase in value with age, resulting in potentially stellar investment returns.

Here are a few examples of traditional blue-chip wine classes from renowned Old World wine regions:

• Grand Cru or Premier Cru red Bordeaux wine
• Grand Cru or Premier Cru red or white Burgundy wine
• Grand Cru or Premier Cru Champagne wine

3.  Rare Cult Wines

This category includes rare wines made in limited quantities, that have a dedicated following of collectors who’re ready to pay huge sums to buy them.

Cult wines usually hail from well-established Old World and New World wine regions like Bordeaux, Tuscany, and California.

Now, let’s explore some of the best bottles to buy in 2024.

10 Best Wines For Your Collection (Includes Budget, Blue-Chip & Rare Bottles)

Here are ten fine wine bottles that should go into your collection:

1. 2013 Domaine Leroy Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France ($19,603)
2. 2015 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France ($5,741)
3. 2012 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA ($5,304)
4. 2013 Harlan Estate, Napa Valley, USA ($1,630)
5. 2009 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, France ($1,306)
6. 2014 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino, Barolo Riserva DOCG, Italy ($1,221)
7. 2019 Chateau Margaux, Margaux, France ($759)
8. 2006 Dom Perignon Brut, Champagne, France ($254)
9. 2015 Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain, Alsace Grand Cru, France ($98)
10. 2019 Domaine Huet Vouvray 'Le Mont' Sec, Loire, France ($42)

1. 2013 Domaine Leroy Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France ($19,603)

The 2013 Domaine Leroy is a Pinot Noir red wine with wildflower, spice, and blackberry aromas. It presents fine tannin and velvety acidity on the palate with fresh earth flavors.

2. 2015 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits, France ($5,741)

This 2015 Pinot Noir French wine has subtle strawberry, plum, violet, and wood spice aromas. It is well-balanced with fine-grained tannin, sweet fruit flavors, and an explosive mineral finish. 

3. 2012 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA ($5,304)

The 2012 Screaming Eagle is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc. This supple red wine presents blackcurrant liqueur, lavender, and new oak aromas with persistent blackberry and wild berry flavors on the palate. 

4. 2013 Harlan Estate, Napa Valley, USA ($1,630)

The 2013 Harlan Estate is made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

This New World wine has a nose of blackberry, white chocolate, and espresso with opulent currant and wild berry flavors on the palate.

5. 2009 Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Pauillac, France ($1,306)

The 2009 Chateau Lafite Rothschild is a Bordeaux red blend made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.

This great wine has a bouquet of dark fruit and licorice with an expressive palate of currant, fig, and plum fruit flavors.

6. 2014 Giacomo Conterno Monfortino, Barolo Riserva DOCG, Italy ($1,221)

This 2014 Italian wine is produced from Nebbiolo grapes and showcases textural opulence and aromatic depth. It offers red berry fruit, blood orange, and spice flavors with an exciting finish. 

7. 2019 Chateau Margaux, Margaux, France ($759)

The 2019 Chateau Margaux is a Bordeaux red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. 

It has blueberry, cassis, and floral aromas with good acidity, minerality, and blackcurrant fruit flavors on the palate.

8. 2006 Dom Perignon Brut, Champagne, France ($254)

The 2006 Dom Perignon has fresh fruit, pastry, and toasted hazelnuts aromas. This sparkling wine is racy with bright acidity, orchard fruit flavors, and a mouthwatering finish.

9. 2015 Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Rangen de Thann Clos Saint Urbain, Alsace Grand Cru, France ($98)

This 2015 Pinot Gris white wine has an alluring lemon peel, earth, and smoke aromas. It displays ripe pear, citrus, and fir honey flavors on the palate with an enticingly dry finish.

10. 2019 Domaine Huet Vouvray 'Le Mont' Sec, Loire, France ($42)

The 2019 Le Mont is a Chenin Blanc white wine with lemon, stone fruit, spice, and herbal aromas. It showcases bracing minerality and citrus fruit flavors.

Read on to find out how to select wines for your collection.

7 Factors To Consider When Looking For Collectible Wines

Here are a few important factors to remember when you shop for bottles for your wine cellar:

1. Budget Range
2. Cellaring Potential
3. Producer Reputation
4. Wines From Renowned Wine Regions
5. A Mix Of Wine Styles
6. A Mix Of Varietal And Blend Wine Styles
7. Optimal Wine Storage

1. Budget Range

Your budget is a key factor in determining how many and which wines you should buy. 

Sometimes, it may be better to buy one high-end fine wine than many cheap wines for long-term storage in your wine cellar.

So, create a yearly budget and divide your spending among the three types of collectible wines. 

2. Cellaring Potential

Ideally, if you’re looking to make a profit, the majority of your collection should consist of age worthy wines.

Age worthy wines can be cellared for years before they reach their peak potential. They have good acid, tannin, sugar, and alcohol levels that allow them to develop nuanced flavors over decades in a bottle.

These wines improve in quality and value, so they are excellent for wine collecting.Note: Wines that do not have sulfur, like most natural wine styles, will not cellar well.

3. Producer Reputation

When selecting age worthy and collectible wines, go for renowned producers who have consistently delivered high-quality vintages. These would always be in high demand, which makes it easier for you to sell to a wine collector later on. 

Think Domaine de la Romanee Conti, Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Dom Perignon, and the likes!

4. Wines From Renowned Wine Regions

Ideally, you should have bottles from both prestigious Old World regions (like the Italian wine region of Barolo and the Spanish Rioja) and New World wine areas like: 

• Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast in California 
• Marlborough and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand
• Hunter Valley and Margaret River in Australia

5. A Mix Of Wine Styles

A mix of white and red wine bottles is a good way to create diversity.

The various wine styles to look out for include:

• Red wine like Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon
• White wine like Chenin Blanc or Pinot Grigio
• Sparkling wine like Champagne or Prosecco
• Rose wine like White Zinfandel or Grenache
• Dessert wine like Sauternes or Port wine

6. A Mix Of Varietal And Blend Wine Styles

Aim for a mix of single varietals and blends. 

Here are a few examples of popular varietal wines:

• Pinot Noir
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Chenin Blanc
• Sauvignon Blanc

And here are popular blends to add to your collection:

• Champagne
• Red or White Bordeaux Blend
• Rioja
• Port wine

7. Optimal Wine Storage

Aged wine should be stored under the right conditions. Otherwise, you risk compromising the wine’s flavor profile and value.

Build a proper wine storage space like a custom wine cellar, an expensive wine cabinet, or a wine fridge with temperature and humidity controls. 

However, if you don’t want to take the trouble to do so, Vinovest can help!

Vinovest is a reliable wine investment company that will help you buy, store, and sell wine. You can have your bottles stored in bonded warehouses under optimal conditions. In case you want to pop open a bottle, Vinovest will ship it to your doorstep - no matter the location!

Now, let’s explore why building a wine collection can be a profitable venture.

Why Building A Wine Collection Is Investment Worthy

Here are a couple of stats that illustrate the growing investment potential of wine:

• The Liv-ex Wine 100 index (the benchmark for the fine wine market) rose by an impressive 270.7% between 2001 and 2021 (outperforming the S&P 500  by 8%.)
• Investment consultancy Knight Frank’s 2021 Wealth Report shows that the value of fine wine has appreciated 127% over the last ten years. It’s a better investment opportunity than luxury handbags, rare furniture, and blue-chip art.

But how can you tell if a specific wine is a worthy investment?

The most lucrative collectible wines have raving reviews and attractive price appreciations.

Consider these examples:

• The 2018 Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon has received a rating of 100 from Robert Parker Wine Advocate and its price has increased by 56%, from $3,210 in 2021 to $5,026 in 2022.
• The 2009 Domaine de la Romanee-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru has received 97 points from Robert Parker Wine Advocate and 95 points from Wine Spectator. Its price has increased by 81%, from $3,298 in 2020 to $5,975 in 2022.

Now, let’s explore how you can add lucrative wines to your collection.

How To Invest In Collectible Wines

Here are a few different ways to invest in wines:

• Vinovest: Vinovest will help you buy fine wines from around the world, sell your mature wine bottles, and find the highest-paying buyers.
• Auction houses: Pick up renowned young or aged wine bottles from auction houses like Sotheby’s or Christie’s. But keep in mind that if you buy at auctions, you will have to pay the buyer’s premium fee (18-22%.)
• Online or retail stores: Wine stores or online platforms can help you source authentic mature wine bottles or even en primeur wines from reliable wine merchants. However, they won’t help you manage your wine collection.
• Wine club: Wine clubs can be an exciting way to discover good wine bottles hand-picked by an expert. However, wine clubs often require a long-term commitment, might have hidden fees, and don’t offer a storage service.
• Mailing lists: Private mailing lists are a fantastic option for a wine collector looking to source rare cult wines. However, getting on a mailing list can take years, making this option available only to very few wine collectors.

Add A Fine Wine To Your Collection Today!

Building a wine collection is an exciting task that can result in potentially splendid returns on your investment.

To make it simple, just start with our list of best wine to collect. And if you need any help, you could always entrust Vinovest to help you create a stellar collection of rare Old World and New World wines.