Ausone and Cheval Blanc came out today at €300 per bottle ex-negociant, completing the set of four Right Bank Classe A wines (which includes Angelus and Pavie) to release. For Cheval Blanc this price represents a 12% drop on 2012, for Ausone 15%, and they are unique among the big Bordeaux for releasing their 2013s at less than their 2008s. But does this mean they present value?
As the charts show, with a UK release price of £3,250 per 12×75 the 2013 does not compare too favourably with older wines. Cheval Blanc – which has long struggled to rise in price – has six cheaper back vintages, including the 93 point 2008 for £2,850 (awarded 95 by Suckling, who gave the 2013 an in-barrel score of 93-94). Ausone 2013 may just be the cheapest but it also has the lowest score since 1997.
With the campaign drawing to a close, these releases are unlikely to rouse an already uninspired market. With a handful of wines still to come, this campaign even compares poorly to last year's poor campaign. The 2013 vintage has accounted for 3.4% of all Bordeaux trade in April – this time last year, the 2012 accounted for 15.7%.
