The premium wine collection of notorious mobster John Gotti is currently up for sale at a liquor store in New York City.
Three dozen bottles are available at the Long Island City wine shop Enoteca LIC, according to the New York Post. And the store’s owner has a connection to the crime boss’s family; Tony D’Aiuto served as John Angelo “Junior” Gotti’s criminal-defense attorney.
“I was completely blown away,” D’Aiuto told the Post of the wine collection (and perhaps not realizing how that quote would sound in connection to Gotti). “These are some of the best wines in the world.”
For what it’s worth, wine expert Mark Oldman gives the collection his endorsement. “Wine is part and parcel of the mobster culinary experience. In a way, if you buy Gotti wine, there’s an element like, ‘I’m drinking like Gotti,’” he told the Post. “It’s almost like Capone’s gun — there’s this historical resonance to it that captivates both wine lovers and history lovers.” He highlights two vintages of Pétrus as the most valuable bottles in the collection, the two worth just under $8K and $10K.
Other prize vintages include a Domaine de la Romanee Conti Grands Echezeaux 1983 and a Château Lafite Rothschild 1983. The wines here are priced between $1,800 and $9,500 per bottle, according to The Drinks Business; as well, each bottle comes with a certificate of authenticity from Junior, who will reportedly be donating proceeds to charity.
It’s just as well that the money earned here is going toward (hopefully) a good cause. The late John Gotti (known as “The Dapper Don” for his expensive taste in clothes) was the boss of NYC’s Gambino crime family; he was eventually convicted of five murders. John Jr. was later indicted and also served time.
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