The great Château d’Yquem was used as a military hospital during both World War I and II. Imagine the conditions for making wine, especially when the German army occupied the area and often the châteaux themselves. Remarkably, this difficult time produced some fine wines and the current Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auction features a beautiful bottle of 1942 d’Yquem. The Marquis Bertrand de Lur-Saluces, an officer in WWI, took over the property in 1918 and was instrumental in maintaining d’Yquem’s status during this difficult era. The cold, dry vintage produced a sweet, pure wine that is in great condition today.

The online auction, which closes on Monday, 6 July at 8 pm, also offers the 1990, 1999 and 2003 vintages of the world’s greatest sweet wine.

Another exceedingly rare wine on auction is the 1991 Gentaz-Dervieux Côte-Rôtie Côte Brune. Marius Gentaz was the uncle of René Rostaing and he produced some of the northern Rhône’s most rare and famous wines. The 1991 was one of the last vintages made by Marius Gentaz before the vineyards were inherited by Rostaing. In 2007, there were believed to be less than 50 bottles of Gentaz-Dervieux remaining worldwide!

The Bordeaux list includes mature beauties from L'Église Clinet, Les Carmes Haut-Brion and Tertre Roteboeuf. The Champagne and Burgundy lists are well represented and there are icons from Italy including Bruno Giacosa, Solaia, Conterno, Rinaldi and Ornellaia. Vintage Louis XIII Cognac, Penfolds Grange and Vega Sicilia round out the incredible list of international wine lots.