DALLAS, TX.- A 5-liter bottle of 1969 Chappellet Cabernet Sauvignon sold Friday at Heritage Auctions for $64,575. That bottle was the top lot in Heritage’s March 22 Fine & Rare Wine Signature® Auction, which realized a total of $2,489,183.

The 1969 Chappellet — widely considered one of the greatest wines ever made in Napa Valley — comes from the collection of Napa Valley restaurateur Alex Dierkhising, who bought the bottle in 1981 during the first Napa Valley Wine Auction. Dierkhising paid $6,000 for the bottle, which is one of only four 5-liter bottles produced by the winery and the only one sold to the public. The other three bottles were reserved for Chappellet family members.

“This is not a rare bird. It might be the rarest of birds,” says Frank Martell, Heritage’s Senior Director of Fine & Rare Wine.

The 5-liter bottle wasn’t the only 1969 Chappellet to perform well Friday evening. Two magnums of the sought-after vintage realized $54,120, and a single bottle sold for $17,220.

Other highlights in the auction included three magnums of 1974 Heitz Martha’s Vineyard that realized $34,440, two bottles of 1991 Leroy Musigny that sold for $25,830, two bottles of 1980 Cros Parantoux that realized $20,295, four bottles of 1962 Maison Leroy Richebourg that sold for $13,530, six bottles of 2020 Screaming Eagle that realized $12,915, six magnums of Mayacamas from 1978-1980 that sold for $11,685 and six bottles of 2000 Sine Qua Non Heels over Head that realized $10,762.