Priceless bottle of champagne found in locked castle cabinet

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Tue Jul 29, 2008 12:27 pm

Hmm, a little quiet here in the wine forum.
A priceless bottle of 115-year-old champagne has been found locked away in a castle on Mull.

Chris James, owner of Torosay Castle and Gardens, found the bubbly after his curiosity about what was in a locked compartment in a dining room sideboard got the better of him.

The “secret” compartment did not have a key, so Mr James employed a locksmith, and the sideboard – a family heirloom – finally gave up its secret, an 1893 bottle of Veuve Clicquot.

It became clear this was the first time the cupboard had been opened since 1897, and the distinctive yellow- labelled champagne was in mint condition.

Also inside were a bottle of brandy, a port decanter and a bottle of claret. Mr James had unearthed a previous castle owner’s personal drinks cabinet.

Intrigued by his find, Mr James contacted Veuve Clicquot in France.

It transpires that Veuve Clicquot had no idea when it first used the trademark yellow labels, but the “Torosay bottle” was the oldest by a long margin.

The piece of champagne history now takes pride of place at the Veuve Clicquot visitor centre at Reims in France.

Fabienne Huttaux, head of communications there, said: “The bottle is literally priceless. It is a one-off and therefore unique. We would never consider selling it as it is far too important to us.”

Mr James said: “I really had no idea what to expect when the cupboard door was finally opened. I’m genuinely delighted that part of Torosay’s 150-year-old history has turned out to be so important and that the bottle is now on display in its rightful home.”

Asked whether the champagne was still drinkable, Peter McKay, of Tartan Silk, which handles public relations for Torosay, said: “I don’t think that question will ever be answered. It is so valuable to Veuve Clicquot in France that they are going to keep it exactly as it is.”

Torosay Castle was built in 1858 for John Campbell of Possil, a wealthy Glasgow merchant, it is thought as a “gentleman’s retreat”. He sold it in 1865.

Why he built such a fine home and then sold so quickly is unclear.

However, Mr James’s research suggested that his business was suffering as a result of the American Civil War, or even that he was sickened by the activities of his factor, Middleton, who burned the roofs at nearby Gulahoulish, and then took over that farm himself.

The next owner was Arbuthnot Guthrie, a wealthy but apparently reclusive merchant banker, who lived at Torosay until his death in 1897.

He was married but had no children, so upon his death he left the castle to his favourite nephew, with the entire contents, including furniture, to his widow.

Somewhat upset at losing her home, local lore has it that she removed all the contents except the wooden dining-room sideboard.
Source: Press and Journal

I am a little disappointment that Mr. James hired a locksmith to open the sideboard. Where is the fun in giving up trying to figure out how to open it yourself?
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Slouching on the reliable old leather recliner.

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