Continuing our series of the most expensive wines to go under the hammer at iDealwine in the first half of 2022, this week we’re delving into the depths of the Rhone Valley, where the rarest wines fetch the highest prices. Ever wondered how much a bottle of Rayas or Chave goes for at auction? Read on, you’re in the right place…

First, check out our overall rankings and then our other regional rankings. All data comes from hammer prices set from 1st January 2022 to 30th June 2022.

iDealwine Rankings | Top Hammer Prices 2022

Bordeaux Rankings | Top Hammer Prices 2022

Loire Rankings | Top Hammer Prices 2022

Champagne Rankings | Top Hammer Prices 2022

World Wines | Top Hammer Prices 2022

What’s Rare is Wonderful

When we look at the top of the ranking, we see that all the wines listed are particularly rare. This is the case of the unbeatable Hermitage Cuvée Cathelin from Jean-Louis Chave, which still occupies first place in the ranking, at €7,936 for the 2003 vintage. This cuvée is only produced in the greatest vintages and only about 2,000 bottles of it. It is unquestionably the finest wine of the Rhône Valley and wine collectors know it!

On the second step of the podium, we find Château Rayas. World-renowned and highly prized, but not particularly the rarest. Which would be the case except for the fact that this is an old vintage, 1999, and above all a large format, which is very rare for this property.

Next in third place is an estate that is no longer producing wine, Marius Gentaz-Dervieux, with its Côte Brune 1980, which sold for €2,418. This estate, famous and renowned in the 1980s, closed its doors in the early 1990s when Marius Gentaz retired, and since then its wines are still sought after, but increasingly rare…

Other estates that have long closed their doors are also present on the list – again, the wines made by these celebrated vignerons are only getting harder and harder to find – Henri Bonneau (#4 with his 1990 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve des Célestins at €2,294), Raymond Trollat (#6 with his 1979 Saint Joseph), Marcel Juge (#9 with the 2005 Cornas Cuvée C, at €868) and Noël Verset (#12 with the 1987 Cornas at €645).

Old Vintage Premium

As in Bordeaux, Rhône wines are renowned for their great ageing potential, which explains the high proportion of old vintages in this list. In fact, of the Top 20, more than half (12 wines) are from vintages prior to 2000 and only two wines are from after 2010.

Northern Rhône in the lead

In this Top 20, only six wines come from the Southern Rhône (all from Châteauneuf-du-Pape except for one Côtes-du-Rhône). There are six Côtes-Rôties, three Hermitages, three Cornas and two Saint Josephs. Even though Châteauneuf-du-Pape remains the most famous appellation in the Rhône, according to the general public, it is clear that when it comes to connoisseurs, the freshness of the Northern Rhône and the delicacy of Syrah (the only authorised Red grape variety) are by far the favourites.

Natural wine, naturally

Finally, let us note that three natural wines are positioned in this list: Thierry Allemand’s Cornas sans soufre 2014 (#13, €620), Gramenon’s Côtes-du-Rhône La Mémé Ceps Centenaires 1989 (#19, €459) and Marie and Pierre Bénetière’s Côtes-du-Rhôtie Le Dolium 2013 (#20, €446)

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