Back in 2002 six traders working for Barclays Bank London dined at Gordon Ramsay's Petrus, one of London's most expensive restaurants, where they drank three bottle of rare vintage Chateau Petrus to celebrate a huge bond and derivatives deal and in so doing managed to rack up a bill of £44,007.
They started by spending a relatively modest £64 on beer and champagne. When they reached the table they ordered a 1982 Montrachet for £1,400, followed by three different vintages of Petrus - a 1945 at £11,600 a bottle, a 1946 at £9,400 and a 1947 at £12,300, and finished with a dessert wine that cost £9,200.
Mr Ramsay was so impressed by this display of conspicuous consumption that he let them have their food for nothing, charging them for the drinks alone. The lunch was widely reported in the press at the time and 5 of the 6 bankers were subsequently sacked for bringing negative publicity to the bank.We wonder whether they have enjoyed Chateau Petrus since.
The bill
1982 Montrachet - £1,400
1945 Petrus - £11,600
1946 Petrus - £9,400
1947 Petrus - £12,300.
1900 Chateau d'Yquem - £9,200
Water, champagne, fruit juice, 2 beers - £102
They started by spending a relatively modest £64 on beer and champagne. When they reached the table they ordered a 1982 Montrachet for £1,400, followed by three different vintages of Petrus - a 1945 at £11,600 a bottle, a 1946 at £9,400 and a 1947 at £12,300, and finished with a dessert wine that cost £9,200.
Mr Ramsay was so impressed by this display of conspicuous consumption that he let them have their food for nothing, charging them for the drinks alone. The lunch was widely reported in the press at the time and 5 of the 6 bankers were subsequently sacked for bringing negative publicity to the bank.We wonder whether they have enjoyed Chateau Petrus since.
The bill
1982 Montrachet - £1,400
1945 Petrus - £11,600
1946 Petrus - £9,400
1947 Petrus - £12,300.
1900 Chateau d'Yquem - £9,200
Water, champagne, fruit juice, 2 beers - £102
