Above is a chart that tracks the price of Lafite Rothschild 1982 (cheapest available price by month for a 12x75cl case in good condition, excluding duty and sales tax).
You will notice that since the fine wine market stumbled in the autumn of 2008, it has bounced back strongly. Remarkably, in February 2009 the cheapest available case of Lafite '82 was £22,000; some £2,500 more than in August 2008.
So what is happening here?
If we look at the two main drivers of fine wine price rises – increasing scarcity and increased global demand - both are represented by Lafite Rothschild 1982 in extremis. Asian demand for all things Lafite is still said to be remarkably buoyant and the '82 is now two years into its ideal drinking window, according to Robert Parker. Indeed, with Asia said to be market that buys wines to drink, rather than collect, supply could be diminishing rather rapidly.
As was also demonstrated by the spike in demand for Lafite 2006 on the back of the recent points upgrade from Robert Parker, Lafite remains the most potent brand in fine wine.
