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Choose a bottle with a natural cork

A 130-Year-Old Château d’Yquem Proves the Power of Natural Cork

Beneath a chapel floor at Bečov Castle in the Czech Republic, 133 wines were recovered, including Château d’Yquem from 1892 and 1896. Cold, humid, stable cellar conditions and the wine’s high sugar content helped. Through it all, a natural cork stood guard.

FINE WINE · August 12, 2026

Wines found beneath a Czech castle chapel opened impressively fresh after more than a century.

Beneath a chapel floor at Bečov Castle in the Czech Republic, 133 wines were recovered, including Château d’Yquem from 1892 and 1896. Cold, humid, stable cellar conditions and the wine’s high sugar content helped. Through it all, a natural cork stood guard.

When the cork was drawn, the bottle opened like a time capsule, the wine described as fresh, balanced and alive. The original corks were carefully replaced during restoration so the wines can keep aging in safety.

Key Facts

  • 133 wines recovered at Bečov Castle
  • Château d’Yquem vintages from 1892 and 1896
  • More than 130 years of protection under natural cork

 

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