You won’t find many retailers in our area that were founded more than three centuries ago, but the company behind a new wine shop in downtown DC, Berry Bros. & Rudd, launched in London way back in 1698. The company’s Jamie Ritchie gives us a peek at some of the rarest–and priciest–offerings at its first US store.
Château Lafite Rothschild 1961 Imperial (6L), $100,000
“Large formats of this age are incredibly rare. This one was bought by Berry Bros. & Rudd on release and has been in our care ever since. We still have the original ledgers that itemize the purchase.”
Romanée Saint-Vivant, Sylvain Cathiard 1996, $3,150
“Cathiard is one of the most highly sought-after producers in Burgundy, and it’s rare to find a complete original case from a vintage like 1996 in the US.”
Harlan Estate 1992, $1,695
“1990 was Harlan Estate’s first commercial vintage, so finding pristine bottles from this era is extremely rare. It’s an amazing wine as well as a little piece of American viticultural history.”
Barolo, Monfortino Riserva, Giacomo Conterno 1997,$1,595
“Giacomo Conterno’s legendary Monfortino Riserva must rank among Italy’s greatest wines. This mature example is from a warmer vintage yet remains a wine of impeccable balance and layer upon layer of detail.”
This article appears in the January 2026 issue of Washingtonian.
