These could be confirmed as the oldest drinkable Champagnes in the world. Until now, two remaining bottles of Perrier-Jouet 1825 vintage were believed the oldest.
According to a BBC news report, divers have found 30 bottles of champagne thought to pre-date the French Revolution on the Baltic seabed. When they opened one, they found the wine - believed to have been made by Clicquot (now Veuve Clicquot) between 1782 and 1788 - was still in good condition.
The bottle - whose shape indicates it was produced in the 18th Century - has now been sent to for analysis.
1 July 2010 - Felicity Murray