The fine wine trade was greeted this morning by an onslaught of Bordeaux 2013 releases, with big names out including Pavie (€165), Angelus (€165), Talbot (€26.4) and Palmer (€150). But unquestionably the biggest of the lot was Mouton Rothschild, releasing at €216 per bottle ex-negociant, down 10% on 2012. If we look at the difference between Lafite and Mouton’s prices, it is interesting to note that in 2012 Lafite was 40% more expensive than Mouton, and this year it is 33% – the gap is shrinking.
With a UK release price of £2,500 per 12×75, Mouton 2013 is 7% cheaper than the 2012, but has a lower in-barrel score: 92-93 from James Suckling compared to the 94-95 he awarded the 2012 (which Parker gave 95-97). But in recent years Mouton has been the best performing First Growth on the secondary market; with brand appeal a key factor in selling an underwhelming vintage, Mouton 2013 may well have a better chance than the others of succeeding.
