Off the pitch

Marcos Llorente and Griezmann celebrate Copa del Rey final with one of the world’s most exclusive wines

The two Atlético de Madrid players escaped with their respective partners to the Etxebarri restaurant, where they drank a Henri Jayer wine.

The two Atlético de Madrid players escaped with their respective partners to the Etxebarri restaurant, where they drank a Henri Jayer wine.
Instagram Marcos Llorente
Update:

Atlético Madrid’s return to the Copa del Rey final after a 13-year absence is a clear reason to celebrate for both fans and players. Two of Diego Simeone’s key performers in the tournament, Marcos Llorente and Antoine Griezmann, marked the occasion by heading out with their partners to the famed Etxebarri restaurant in Axpe, in Spain’s Basque Country, for a celebratory meal.

Alongside the restaurant’s tasting menu, priced at about $325 per person, the group also opened a bottle of one of the most exclusive wines in the world: a Henri Jayer Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru Cros Parantoux 2001, the final vintage produced by the legendary Burgundy winemaker.

The exact price of the bottle is difficult to pin down. Etxebarri does not publish its wine list online and fewer than 3,500 bottles of this vintage were produced. That makes every unopened bottle extremely rare. At wine auctions, prices have ranged from roughly $16,000 to $43,000, depending on condition and bidding. Magnum bottles, which contain twice as much wine, have fetched close to $97,000.

It was Llorente who documented the experience on social media, sharing photos of the meal, which featured grilled meats, prawns, gulas (a Spanish delicacy made from baby eels), and other dishes that looked as appealing as they were luxurious. But enjoying the star of the evening required less chewing than tasting skill.

“My 57th and final vintage. The barrel of friends, meant to be drunk among them. That’s how Henri imagined it. That’s how he wrote it. And that’s how it happened where it had to be: at Etxebarri,” Llorente wrote on Instagram, sharing the inscription from the bottle.

The wine itself is known for its deep garnet color, aromas of ripe red fruit and rose petals, and a palate that balances bright acidity with freshness.

Related stories

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that of this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.

Tagged in:
Comments
Rules

Complete your personal details to comment

We recommend these for you in Soccer